Another Teen NEET Aspirant’s Death Comes to Light in Patna

The death of yet another teenage NEET aspirant in Patna has come to light, adding to the growing unease in Bihar where protests and political reactions are already underway following the recent death of a 17-year-old medical entrance candidate in the state capital.

In the second case, a 15-year-old girl from Aurangabad district, who was preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), allegedly died by suicide in her hostel room on January 6, according to police officials familiar with the matter.

The girl had been living in Patna for the past six months to prepare for the highly competitive medical entrance examination. Her father told The Indian Express that she had returned to the hostel on January 4 after spending a short vacation at home.

“We spoke to her on January 4 and 5, and again on the morning of January 6,” her father said. “She spoke to me around 9 am that day. There was nothing in her voice that suggested she was distressed.”

According to the father, CCTV footage from the hostel showed the girl brushing her teeth at around 10.52 am. However, at approximately 1 pm, the hostel operator contacted the family and informed them that the girl had allegedly taken her own life.

The father filed a written complaint with the police, stating that family members immediately rushed to the hostel and later to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). “When we reached PMCH, her body was lying in the emergency ward, and doctors told US she had already been declared dead,” the complaint stated.

In his statement, the father alleged that two youths living in the vicinity had been harassing his daughter, causing her severe mental distress. “My daughter was under constant pressure because of this harassment. She was compelled to take this extreme step,” he said.

A senior police officer confirmed that preliminary investigations revealed frequent communication between the girl and one of the accused. “The girl and one of the juvenile accused were in regular contact,” the officer said.

Based on the father’s complaint, one of the accused — who has been identified as a minor — was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and subsequently sent to a reform home. The officer added that further investigation into the matter is ongoing.

The postmortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was hanging, police officials said.

This incident has emerged at a particularly sensitive time, as Patna has witnessed protests over the death of another NEET aspirant earlier this month. In that case, a 17-year-old girl was found unconscious in her hostel room and later died during treatment.

The postmortem report in the earlier case stated that “sexual violence could not be ruled out,” triggering public outrage and demands for accountability. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the matter, and the owner of the hostel building was arrested.

Together, these incidents have once again brought attention to the intense pressure faced by young students preparing for competitive exams, as well as concerns over hostel safety, Mental health support, and accountability mechanisms in coaching hubs like Patna.

As investigations continue, families, educators, and policymakers are facing renewed questions about how aspiring students can be protected from harassment, isolation, and overwhelming stress in pursuit of academic success.