Wed Jan 22 11:45:16 UTC 2025: ## Kota’s Suicide Crisis Deepens: Two More Student Deaths in One Day
**Kota, Rajasthan:** The city of Kota, a hub for competitive exam preparation, is grappling with another wave of student suicides. Two students died by suicide on Wednesday, bringing the month’s total to six and fueling concerns about the intense pressure faced by students.
Parag, a student from Assam’s Nagaon, was found dead at his home in Mahaveer Nagar. Hours earlier, Afsha Sheikh, a NEET aspirant from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, was found hanging in her hostel room in Jawahar Nagar. Police have launched investigations and ordered post-mortem examinations.
These deaths follow a string of suicides this month, including Neeraj (JEE aspirant), Abhishek (JEE aspirant), Abhijeet (NEET aspirant), and Manan Sharma (JEE aspirant). While the number of student suicides in Kota decreased last year to 17 (excluding school students), compared to 23 in 2023, the recent spike is alarming.
The high-pressure environment and intense competition for coveted university places in India have long been blamed for the suicides. The lucrative coaching industry in Kota, which generated over Rs 3,500 crore in revenue last year, is facing pressure to address the issue.
In response to previous suicides, the Rajasthan government announced measures in December to mitigate the problem, including stricter regulations for coaching centers and hostels, sensitivity training for wardens, and the establishment of suicide helplines. However, the recent surge in deaths casts doubt on the effectiveness of these interventions.
Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar recently attributed some suicides to love affairs and urged parents to avoid pressuring their children into unwanted career paths. The ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the mental health needs of students in Kota and similar high-pressure academic environments.
First Piper 