08 September,2026 02:13 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
A 17-year-old student from Thane, who scored 95.7 per cent in his Class 12 science examinations, allegedly died by suicide after failing to secure admission to the higher education institute of his choice, police said.
The teenager lived with his family in a residential complex in Hiranandani Estate on Ghodbunder Road. According to police, the boy had been hoping to pursue a BS-MS dual degree at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, in West Bengal.
Despite getting a high score in his Class 12 examinations, he was unable to secure a seat after obtaining a rank of 10,474 in the institute's aptitude test. Police said the disappointment over not gaining admission to the institute he aspired to attend had deeply affected him.
On September 4 evening, the teenager left his home at around 7.30 pm, telling his family that he was going cycling, police said.
Around 8.15 pm, he sent a message to the family WhatsApp group indicating that he intended to end his life. His family noticed the message and, after finding that his phone had been switched off, immediately alerted the Kasarvadavali police.
Police personnel and family members began searching the area. The teenager was subsequently found critically injured near his residential complex and taken to Thane Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, police said.
An accidental death report (ADR) has been registered on the basis of a statement provided by the teenager's father.
Police said the family has not suspected any foul play in the incident and has attributed the teenager's extreme step to academic distress following his inability to obtain admission to his preferred institute.
The incident has raised concerns over the intense academic and admission-related pressures faced by students, particularly those who perform well but may still miss out on highly competitive courses or institutions.
The teenager's 95.7 per cent score in the Class 12 science examinations had placed him among strong academic performers. However, his performance in the aptitude-based admission process did not result in a seat at the institute he had hoped to join.
The police investigation is based on the information provided by the family and the circumstances recorded in the ADR. Further details, if established during the inquiry, will determine the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death.
(With inputs from PTI)
