24-04-2025
Seven students in Telangana die by suicide within 24 hours of Intermediate exam results
Within 24 hours of the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE) announcing the first and second-year Intermediate examination results on Tuesday, April 22, as many as seven students across the State died by suicide. The students, aged between 16 and 17, belonged to various districts, including Hyderabad, Bhongir, Peddapalli, and Mancherial.
In Sanathnagar, a 17-year-old boy died by suicide at his residence in Avantinagar, Motinagar, around 2 p.m. on Tuesday. A first-year Intermediate student at Nine Education College in Balkampet, the boy had failed in four subjects. Family members found him dead in his room shortly after the results were announced.
In Nagole, another 17-year-old, a BiPC student, ended her life after failing in the Botany subject. Her parents found her dead in her bedroom later in the day.
A similar incident was reported in Gundlapochampally, where a Inter first-year student died by suicide despite having passed the exams. An officer from the Petbasheerabad police said she was reportedly disappointed with her performance. 'Her friends shared that she had aspired to pursue IIT but felt she hadn't done well enough in the exams,' said the officer.
In Banjara Hills, a 16-year-old girl who failed Chemistry took her life on Tuesday afternoon while her parents were away. Police stated she had earlier expressed suicidal thoughts to a friend over Instagram.
Bhongir Rural police reported that a boy from Basvapuram village also took the extreme step on Tuesday evening after failing to clear the Inter first-year exam. Similarly, in Peddapalli district, a 17-year-old CEC student from GD Nagar died by suicide after returning home upon learning she had failed a subject.
A 17-year-old girl in Mancherial district ended her life early Wednesday morning. Police said she had failed the year due to not attending practical exams. Her family, still asleep at the time, was unaware of her distress.
Psychologist Spandana Reddy, based in Hyderabad, described the incidents as a reflection of the intense academic pressure students in southern India face. 'Children are conditioned to seek validation through high scores. Anything less than even 80% is treated as failure. This must change,' she said. She urged parents and educators to re-evaluate their methods, support children's emotional well-being, and engage in open dialogue about alternative career paths and interests beyond traditional streams like engineering or medicine.
(Roshini suicide prevention helpline number are: 8142020033/44 and 040 66202000/2001.)
