NEET-UG aspirant dies after falling from building in Indore; family says she took her own life due to exam stress

A 21-year-old NEET-UG aspirant died under suspicious circumstances after she fell from the house she was staying in in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, police said on Friday (Jun 19, 2026).

According to police, the incident took place on Thursday (June 18, 2026) at around 11.30 pm when Avantika Maurya sustained injuries after falling from the third floor of a building in Indore’s Dhakad Colony after which her father Banshi Lal Maurya took her to a nearby private hospital. The girl succumbed to her injuries at MY Hospital on Friday morning around 5:20.

Indore zone 4 DCP Sunil Kumar Mehta told The Hindu that an inquiry has been initiated into the girl’s death and the police have started an investigation.

While Mr Mehta did not confirm whether the girl took her own life, he said she died under “suspicious circumstances”.

“We have started an investigation and are questioning her family and friends. More details will be known later,” he said.

A resident of neighboring Dhar district, Avantika was living in Indore with her elder sister and was preparing for the medical entrance exam, with her family saying she had given three attempts at NEET-UG and the re-examination on June 21 would be her fourth.

According to her family, the girl was disheartened after the recent leak of questions.

While Mr. Maurya’s phone number remained switched off on Friday evening, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari spoke to him and shared the audio on X.

In the interview, Mr. Maurya is heard saying that his daughter had been preparing for NEET-UG for three years and was “depressed” late.

“Last time she did the exams but they were canceled and the result didn’t come. She stopped talking and eating a lot for a few days. She would stay alone,” says Mr. Maurya, who suspects that Avantika ended her life.

Mr. Patwari targeted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the incident and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“The hands of the BJP paper mafia are stained with the blood of many innocent children. This is not a death but a murder committed by the corrupt BJP system. Narendra Modi and Dharmendra Pradhan are responsible for this death. Dharmendra Pradhan must resign!” said Mr. Patwari.

(If you are in distress or suicidal, please contact these 24/7 helplines: KIRAN at 1800-599-0019 or Arogya Sahayavani at 104.)

Published – 20 Jun 2026 01:11 IST