Tamil Nadu: NEET Aspirant Dies by Suicide After Missing Out on First-Round Counselling
A 21-year-old NEET aspirant allegedly died by suicide in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli after she failed to secure a medical seat in the first round of NEET-UG counselling, according to police and reports.
A 21-year-old NEET aspirant, who had cleared the medical entrance examination this year after intensive preparation, allegedly died by suicide in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district after her name did not appear in the first round of NEET-UG counselling, according to police and local reports, India Today reported.
The deceased was identified as Sruthi Laya, a resident of Palayamkottai. She had been preparing to pursue a career in medicine and had enrolled at a NEET coaching centre after completing her schooling in 2023. Kota: 20-Year-Old NEET Aspirant Dies by Suicide in Rajasthan.
Had Cleared NEET After Another Attempt
According to the report, Laya had appeared for NEET-UG the previous year but could not secure a medical seat. She subsequently prepared intensively for another attempt and successfully cleared the entrance examination this year, raising hopes of securing admission to a medical college.
However, her name was reportedly missing from the recently released first-round counselling list. The development is believed to have caused her significant distress, although the circumstances surrounding her death are still being investigated. Visakhapatnam: Class 9 Student Dies by Suicide After Argument With Mother Over Expensive Smartphone.
Family Raises Alarm
According to the report, Laya went to bed after learning the counselling outcome but could not be found by her family the following morning. Family members searched the house and nearby areas before finding her in a shed close to the residence. Police were informed and reached the spot soon afterwards. Her body was taken to a government hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Police Investigation Underway
Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances leading to the death. The authorities are also expected to establish the sequence of events surrounding the counselling result and the subsequent incident.
The incident comes amid the highly competitive process of medical admissions, in which clearing NEET does not by itself guarantee an MBBS seat. Candidates must also secure a seat through the counselling and allotment process.
Tamil Nadu's first-round NEET-UG 2026 counselling results were recently released, covering MBBS and BDS admissions for the 2026-27 academic year. The first-round allotment included 9,437 seats across government and management quota categories. The case remains under investigation, and police have not indicated that the counselling outcome was the sole cause of the death.
Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Helpline Numbers:
Tele Manas (Ministry of Health) – 14416 or 1800 891 4416; NIMHANS – + 91 80 26995000 /5100 /5200 /5300 /5400; Peak Mind – 080-456 87786; Vandrevala Foundation – 9999 666 555; Arpita Suicide Prevention Helpline – 080-23655557; iCALL – 022-25521111 and 9152987821; COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ) – 0832-2252525.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2026 07:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).