Growing Crisis in India's Coaching Hub

KOTA — India's premier coaching hub has once again been plunged into grief following the tragic deaths of two students preparing for engineering and medical entrance examinations. The incidents, reported within hours of each other, have reignited intense scrutiny over the mental health support systems, hostel oversight, and administrative accountability in the educational city.

In the first incident, 16-year-old Ajit Dhakad, a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, was found dead in his paying guest (PG) accommodation in the Jawahar Nagar area. Dhakad, who had arrived in Kota six months ago to prepare for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), was discovered after missing a scheduled coaching test on Sunday.

According to local law enforcement, the student's room was locked from the inside. Police officers from the Jawahar Nagar station forced entry around 9:30 PM after being alerted by the worried hostel owner and family. Dhakad was rushed to a nearby hospital, where attending physicians pronounced him dead on arrival.

Authorities suspect the teenager may have been battling severe academic stress and depression, though an official cause of death will be determined following a comprehensive forensic investigation. Family members recounted that Dhakad had spoken to his mother just a night prior, giving no indication of distress.

Allegations of Negligence in Second Case

Hours after the first tragedy, a second student was found unconscious in a hostel bathroom in the Kunhadi area of Kota.

Nineteen-year-old Gautam Kumar, originally from Bihar's Darbhanga district, was enrolled in local coaching institutes for his National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) medical preparations. Kumar resided at a local residency in Landmark City.

He was transported to MBS Hospital, where he passed away during treatment. Following the incident, grieving family members raised serious allegations of negligence against the hostel administration and coaching authorities.

Relatives pointed out that Kumar had been absent from communal meals throughout the day, yet no hostel warden or staff member checked on his whereabouts. It was only after a relative—who is also studying in the city—visited the premises that Kumar was discovered unresponsive.

Police have registered a formal complaint regarding the alleged lapse in supervision, and local authorities are reviewing protocols across student accommodations in the district.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, distress, or thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to local support services or helpline numbers available across India.