Student goes missing in Kota, 2nd case in a week
A student from Uttar Pradesh, who was studying in Rajasthan's Kota, has been missing since last Tuesday (February 13). According to reports, Piyush Kapasia, a Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) aspirant, was staying at a hostel in Kota's Indra Vihar for the last two years. This is the second such missing case to be reported this week from India's coaching hub.
Student's phone switched off since 1 week
According to an NDTV report, the boy's father said that Kapasia last spoke to his mother on Tuesday morning after which he did not take the family's calls. He later switched off his phone. A missing complaint has been filed in the matter, and the police have launched a search operation to trace him. This came after another 18-year-old National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant went missing from Kota after he left for his coaching institute on Saturday.
NEET aspirant went missing last week
The 18-year-old NEET aspirant, identified as Yuvraj, was enrolled at a private coaching center. On Saturday, Yuvraj left his hostel in the Transport Nagar area to reach his institute at 7:00am. Since then, the teenager has remained untraceable. Per reports, the boy also left his phone at the hostel. Efforts are on to trace the missing aspirant, the police said.
16-year-old MP student disappeared last week
Last week, Rachit Sondhya, a 16-year-old student from Madhya Pradesh, disappeared from a coaching hub. He was last captured on security camera footage entering the forest near Garadiya Mahadev Temple in Kota. The police recovered his belongings, including his bag and keys, from the area. Sondhya's parents have distributed posters seeking public assistance in locating their son. They have also contacted Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar, seeking his involvement in the search effort.
Kota reported 27 student deaths in 2023: Report
To note, four suicide cases have already been reported from Kota in 2024. Last year, 27 died by suicide in Kota. The number of suicides last year was the highest since 2015 when the local administration first began compiling records of suicides. The Centre has now issued guidelines to prevent student suicides in the city. Notably, Kota, a hub for India's test-prep industry worth Rs. 10,000 crore annually, attracts students from across India after Class 10.
Seek help if you are having suicidal thoughts
If you or anyone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts, you can reach out to AASRA for suicide prevention counseling. Its number is 022-27546669 (24 hours). You can also dial Roshni NGO at +914066202000 or COOJ at +91-83222-52525. Sneha India Foundation, which works 24x7, can be contacted at +91-44246-40050. Vandrevala Foundation's helpline number is +91-99996-66555 (call and WhatsApp).
