Kalaburagi: An 18-year-old student who had recently appeared for the NEET examination died by suicide in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, police said.

The student, identified as Bhagyashree, had scored 92 per cent in the PUC examinations and had appeared for the NEET exam on May 2.

According to police, Bhagyashree allegedly died by suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan at her apartment. No suicide note has been found so far. Police visited the spot and conducted an inspection, and further investigation is underway.

In recent weeks, there have been several reports of student suicides linked to stress and uncertainty around NEET-UG, following controversies and examination disruptions.

On May 16, a medical aspirant allegedly died by suicide in Rajasthan. The student, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu’s Gudha Gaudji area. Family members said he had performed well in the exam and was expecting around 650 marks but became distressed after the test was cancelled.

Udyog Nagar station house officer (SHO) Rajesh Kumar said Pradeep had been living in Sikar with his two sisters for the past three years while preparing for the medical entrance exam at a private coaching institute.

The National Testing Agency had earlier cancelled the NEET-UG examination following allegations of irregularities and a paper leak, affecting more than 22 lakh aspirants.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan later announced that the re-examination will be held on June 21, and that the medical entrance test will move to a computer-based format from next year.