Patna: A 20-year-old NEET aspirant died by suicide in Patna on Saturday, just a day ahead of the high-stakes national entrance exam. The student, Vivek Mandal, was found hanging in a rented accommodation he shared with his sister, also a fellow NEET candidate.
The incident occurred on Salimpur Ahara Road No. 3, under the jurisdiction of Gandhi Maidan police station. According to Rajesh Kumar, the station’s in-charge, Vivek was alone at the time of the incident. “His sister had gone to a library when the suicide took place,” Kumar said.
Originally from Madhubani, Vivek had moved to Patna to prepare for NEET, the gateway exam for undergraduate medical courses in India. His uncle, Arun Kumar, expressed shock over the tragedy. “Vivek never showed signs of being under pressure. He didn’t share anything with us,” he said.
Vivek’s sister, also preparing for the same exam, has been left devastated by the loss. “She is in deep shock and keeps fainting from grief,” said a neighbour who rushed to the scene.
The incident has cast a dark shadow over the NEET UG 2025 exam, scheduled for Sunday, May 4, at 2pm. This year, over 23 lakh candidates are set to appear for the test across the country. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had released admit cards on April 30, along with strict guidelines for candidates.
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050, Tele Manas – 14416 (available 24×7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline – 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
