Student Suicides Raise Concern In Gujarat As 5 Cases Reported In 8 Days

Educational campuses across Gujarat are facing renewed concern over student suicides, with five students reported to have died by suicide in Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara in the last eight days.

The recent cases include students who died after jumping from high-rise buildings and a Class 10 student in Vadodara who died by suicide by hanging. The incidents have once again raised questions around academic pressure, parental expectations and social stress faced by students.

Second Student Suicide At Marwadi University In Six Days

Marwadi University in Rajkot has come under focus after two student suicides were reported within a short period.

On September 16, a female student died by suicide after jumping from the 10th floor of the university campus. Now, a third-year Computer Engineering student, identified as Hemant Sitaram Prasad Gandham, 20, from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, has died after jumping from the sixth floor.

According to police information, Hemant lived in the university hostel. On Friday morning, he attended his third-floor classroom with his classmates as usual.

At around 9:45 am, shortly after the class began, he reportedly left the classroom saying he was going to the washroom. He then took the lift to the sixth floor and jumped from there.

University staff and students rushed to the spot after hearing the noise. The Kuwadva police also reached the university and carried out the necessary procedures. The body was later shifted to Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Police sources said that no specific reason behind the student’s death has been established so far. His family has been informed and is travelling to Rajkot.

Following the second student suicide at the university within six days, ABVP activists staged a protest on the campus and were detained by police.

Student Suicides Reported In Surat And Vadodara

In Surat, a female B.Com student reportedly returned home after appearing for her examination on September 18 and died by suicide after jumping from the 13th floor.

On September 24, a second-year PG medical student in Surat also died by suicide after jumping from a building.

In Vadodara, a Class 10 minor student died by suicide by hanging, with exam stress cited in the source material as the reason.

1,899 Student Suicides Reported In Gujarat

According to the figures mentioned in the source, 1,899 students have died by suicide in Gujarat over the last five years.

In one year alone, 568 students reportedly died by suicide, translating to an average of around three student deaths every two days.

The figures also show that more than 1,024 female students were among those who died by suicide.

The source states that 108 students died due to fear of failing examinations, while 159 youths died amid unemployment-related concerns.

A recent case involving frustration over paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET examination has also been cited.

Calls For Action To Address Student Suicides

The rising number of cases has led to demands for immediate government intervention.

The source calls for a strict policy to control rising education fees and regulate fee structures. It also seeks the formation of independent investigation commissions at both the state and national levels to examine the causes behind student suicides.

It further calls for a strict, time-bound Action Plan to address the issue and prevent further loss of student lives.