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The deceased, identified as Krishna Subhash Sonawane, was found at his home in Khandala village within Maharashtra’s Vaijapur taluka
Local police arrived at the spot shortly after being alerted by the family. The body was shifted to a nearby government hospital for a post-mortem examination before being handed over to the family for the final rites. (Representational photo: ANI)
A moving note reading “I will become a doctor in my next life” was recovered after a 19-year-old NEET aspirant died by suicide at his residence in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
The deceased, identified as Krishna Subhash Sonawane, was found at his home in Khandala village within the Vaijapur taluka. The tragedy has once again highlighted the crushing academic pressure, intense competition, and severe psychological distress experienced by millions of medical entrance aspirants across the country.
Tragic Discovery and Last Words
According to local reports, the teenager was preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), the gateway to undergraduate medical admissions in India. After returning home, Krishna locked himself inside a room. When he failed to respond to repeated calls from family members, they broke open the door and found him dead.
A handwritten suicide note found at the scene laid bare the extreme pressure he was undergoing. In the note, Krishna expressed deep sorrow over his inability to clear the competitive medical entrance examination, apologising to his parents for not fulfilling their dreams before writing that he hoped to become a doctor in his next life.
Local Investigation Underway
Local police arrived at the spot shortly after being alerted by the family. The body was shifted to a nearby government hospital for a post-mortem examination before being handed over to the family for the final rites. Authorities have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and initiated a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Neighbours and acquaintances described Krishna as a dedicated student who had been preparing rigorously for the medical entrance test. The sudden loss has left his family devastated and sent shockwaves through the local community in Khandala.
Growing Alarm Over Aspirant Mental Health
The tragedy comes amid a concerning nationwide rise in suicides among students preparing for high-stakes competitive examinations such as NEET and JEE. Millions of students compete annually for a limited number of seats in government medical and engineering colleges, leading to immense stress, isolation, and burnout.
Mental health professionals and educational experts continue to urge parents, coaching institutes, and policymakers to closely monitor students showing signs of depression or anxiety. Timely psychological counselling, manageable expectations, and robust support networks remain critical to preventing such devastating outcomes.
Disclaimer: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
Key Questions Answered
Ask News18Support systems for NEET aspirants include 24-hour helplines offering mental health counselling, and measures to ease travel and accommodation for re-examinations, such as free or subsidised bus travel, suspended train maintenance, and reduced hostel rents.
Ask News18About the Author
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More
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