Chhattisgarh Board Exams Overshadowed by Tragic Student Suicides, Police Investigate Exam Stress Link
As class 12 board examinations commenced in Chhattisgarh on Friday, with class 10 exams set to begin on Saturday, a wave of tragedy has struck the state, raising urgent concerns about student mental health. Police, academic authorities, and parents are confronting a distressing question: is exam stress taking a devastating toll on young lives? In a shocking development, four students—all preparing for their board examinations—died by suicide in separate incidents across Chhattisgarh within just two days, prompting police to focus their investigations on potential exam-related pressure.
Four Suicides in Two Days Across Multiple Districts
The victims include three boys and one girl, with incidents occurring on Wednesday and Thursday. A suicide note was recovered in only one of the four cases, and it did not specify the reason for the tragic act. Chhattisgarh's Korba district has emerged as a hotspot, reporting three of the suicides, while the fourth was recorded in Janjgir-Champa district. Police officials have stated that they are meticulously examining possible stress factors, family circumstances, and personal issues in each case to determine the underlying causes.
Inquiries are currently ongoing, and post-mortem examinations have been completed. The brother of a 17-year-old class 10 student from a private school in Korba district informed police that his sister was actively preparing for her board examinations at the time of her death.
Detailed Accounts of the Tragic Incidents
In another area of Korba district, a 17-year-old boy, a class 12 commerce student, died by suicide after failing to appear for a physical education examination scheduled for Thursday. Neighbors reported that he had locked his room door, with loud music playing for an extended period. It was only after they managed to open a window that they discovered he had taken his own life. Korba City SP Prateek Chaturvedi revealed that a suicide note written in English was found, in which the student expressed a wish for his body to be donated to a medical college after his death.
Another 17-year-old boy also died by suicide in the same area of Korba district. Additionally, in Janjgir-Champa district, an 18-year-old class 12 student died by suicide, marking the fifth case in this tragic series. Police in both Korba and Janjgir-Champa have emphasized that each case is being investigated separately, with verification of family statements, analysis of digital trails, and assessment of any signs of academic or personal pressure.
Non-Board Exam Student Also Affected
In a related incident, a 16-year-old class 9 girl died by suicide in Korba district on Thursday. Although she was not a candidate for the board examinations, sources indicated that she was likely under significant stress due to her studies being impacted by her mother's illness, highlighting the broader issue of student mental health beyond exam periods.
Separate Tragedy: Fatal Accident on Way to Exam
In a separate but equally tragic event in Surguja district, two friends riding a motorcycle to appear for their class 12 board examination were involved in a fatal accident on Friday. Their bike went out of control and collided with another motorcycle ahead, throwing the pillion rider nearly 12 feet into the air and resulting in his immediate death. The students were en route to an exam center approximately 5 kilometers away, aiming to arrive by 9 a.m., but were already running late. Police reported that the crash occurred just 10 minutes before their scheduled arrival time at the examination center.
These incidents collectively underscore the immense pressures faced by students during examination seasons and have sparked a critical dialogue on the need for enhanced mental health support and safety measures in educational settings across Chhattisgarh.
