CHENNAI: Board Exams have their toll and this year wasn’t any different. Driven by fear and failure in the board examinations, at least seven students have committed suicide while fourteen others made unsuccessful attempts to end their lives across the State.
The teens took the drastic step either by hanging or setting themselves on fire and by consuming pesticide or sleeping pills. Ironically, three of the victims had actually cleared the examinations.
Apprehensive of not passing the examination, Ajay of Theni consumed pesticide on Wednesday and died at the Government Medical College Hospital. He secured 667 marks. Depressed over the poor score, Elakkiya of Tsunami colony hanged herself while Manjula of Erode set herself on fire after dousing with kerosene on Thursday. Elakkiya scored 745 while Manjula got 664.Devadharshini, from Villupuram, set herself afire fearing failure and succumbed to burns at the hospital. Of the three other victims, Saranya of Karur and Anandhi of Vettaikarankoil near Erode hanged themselves after the results were announced while Eswari of Manakkattur village consumed pesticide.
The fourteen who made vain attempts to end their lives too either consumed poison or sleeping pills. Eight girls who attempted to end their lives are being treated in various hospitals across Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai districts. They were identified as Chamundeswari of Salamedu, Jayanthi and Maria of Keelperumpakkam, Thamizhselvi near kallakurichi, Priya of Melanthal village, Roopini near Thirukovilur and Lavanya and Sangeetha near Gingee.
In Salem, Kasturi of Suramangalam took cleaning acid while Akalya of Aiyanthirumaligai consumed poison after failing. Both were admitted to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital.
A Nagapattinam report said three girls attempted suicide. Rasiya of Edamanal village consumed pesticide and is battling for life while Meena who drank kerosene is out of danger; the condition of Kuzhalini of Thandavakkulam who took sleeping pills is also stable.
A class 9 student in Gobi attempted suicide after being detained, and is in hospital.