Fifth student death in Kota in 2024; missing IIT JEE aspirant's body found

PTC Web Desk: The body of a 16-year-old IIT JEE aspirant, identified as Rachit Sondhiya, has been recovered in the Chambal valley of Rajasthan after an intensive week-long search. Sondhiya, a resident of Madhya Pradesh studying in Kota, went missing on February 11, and his last known location was near Garadia Mahadev temple. This marks the fifth student death in Kota this year.

Despite extensive efforts by the State Disaster Response Force, including sniffer dogs and drones, Rachit Sondhiya's whereabouts remained unknown until the discovery in a remote part of the Chambal valley, suggesting a possible fatal plunge from the hills.

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Approximately 200,000 students come to Kota each year, and the city has witnessed a concerning number of student deaths, with four attributed to suicides this year. Last year, 26 suicides were reported in the coaching hub, raising alarms about student well-being.

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This incident highlights the broader issue of student mental health, prompting the Central Government to issue guidelines aimed at alleviating the pressures faced by coaching students. The new directives include a ban on enrolling students below the age of 16 in coaching centres and implementing admission procedures only after the successful completion of secondary school examinations.