Two students from Jalgaon district died by suicide on Monday after receiving lower-than-expected marks in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination, the results of which were declared the same day. The incidents occurred in Mamurabad and Pachora, triggering concern among educators and mental health professionals.
Rishikesh Dinesh Patil (17), a resident of Mamurabad, had secured 42% and was reportedly upset over his performance. He hanged himself on the second floor of his house. His mother, who was unwell and had not seen him for a while, discovered his body when she went to check on him.
In a separate incident, Bhavesh Mahajan, who had travelled to Pachora to visit his sister, took his life after scoring 49%. The Pachora police have registered both cases as accidental deaths.
Education counsellor Pankaj Vyavhare urged students and parents to view exams as part of life and not the end. “Success and failure are two sides of the same coin,” he said.
The HSC exams, held in March 2025, recorded a pass percentage of 94.54% in Jalgaon district, up from 93.26% last year. Jalgaon city reported a pass rate of 96.95%, with 42,295 of 44,736 students clearing the exam.
