A 17-year-old engineering aspirant from Bihar’s Araria district, Jaya Shree, died under mysterious circumstances after she was found critically injured beneath the Vigyan Nagar flyover in Kota, Rajasthan, on Saturday night.
The teenager, who had moved to Kota six months ago to prepare for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), reportedly made a final phone call from the hospital to her father, pleading, “Papa, save me. I’m dying. My body is in terrible pain,” before succumbing to her injuries around 30 minutes later.
According to her family, Jaya had spoken to her father just two hours earlier and appeared cheerful, saying she was heading to the mess for dinner.
Police have launched an investigation to determine how she sustained her injuries and whether the case involves an accident or foul play. Officials have not yet publicly confirmed the cause of her injuries, while her family says they are waiting for answers about the circumstances that led to her death.
Final Hours Before Tragedy
Jaya Shree, a resident of Ward No. 16 (Panjiyar Tola) in Raniganj Nagar Panchayat of Bihar’s Araria district, had moved to Kota with hopes of securing admission to a prestigious engineering college. Described by her family as a bright and determined student who performed well in her Class X examinations, she was the eldest of four siblings and had been pursuing JEE coaching for the past six months.
According to her father, Yogesh Panjiyar, he spoke to Jaya around 9 pm on Saturday as part of their daily routine. During the conversation, she reportedly sounded relaxed, spoke about her classes, and informed him that she was heading to the mess for dinner before calling her mother later that night.
However, when the promised call never came, her mother repeatedly tried contacting her without success. Concerned, the family requested another girl staying near Jaya’s accommodation to check on her.
At around 11 pm, Yogesh received a call from an unknown number informing him that Jaya had been found in a critical condition beneath the Vigyan Nagar flyover and was being shifted to hospital after local police were alerted. Moments later, the same number called again, this time allowing Jaya to briefly speak to her father.
According to Yogesh, she cried repeatedly, saying, “Papa, save me. I’m dying. My body is in terrible pain.” Before he could ask what had happened, a hospital staff member reportedly took the phone and asked her to rest. Roughly half an hour later, the family received another call informing them that she had succumbed to her injuries.
Investigation Underway
The exact circumstances surrounding Jaya’s death remain unclear, with several questions yet to be answered. Her family says they do not know how she sustained the injuries, why she was found beneath the Vigyan Nagar flyover, who first discovered her, or who transported her to hospital.
Yogesh Panjiyar has said that only the police investigation can reveal the truth behind the incident. Following the tragedy, Jaya’s father and other relatives left for Kota at around 4 am, while local residents said her mother initially remained at home, unaware that her daughter had died.
Police have begun investigating the sequence of events leading up to the incident and are expected to examine available evidence, including CCTV footage, witness statements and Jaya’s movements after she reportedly left for dinner.
As of now, officials have not publicly confirmed whether the injuries resulted from an accident, suicide, or any criminal act, and no official statement disclosing the cause of death has been released.
The incident has once again drawn attention to Kota, India’s largest coaching hub, where lakhs of students arrive every year to prepare for competitive examinations such as JEE and NEET. I
n recent years, authorities and coaching institutes have introduced counselling programmes, helplines and other student support initiatives in response to growing concerns over student welfare and safety.
However, Jaya’s death has highlighted that, alongside mental health, student safety and accountability in unexplained incidents remain equally important areas requiring attention.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The death of a young student pursuing her dreams is a profound tragedy, made even more painful when it is surrounded by unanswered questions. Regardless of the eventual findings, every family deserves transparency, timely communication and a fair, impartial investigation when such incidents occur.
Educational cities that attract thousands of young people from across the country also carry a responsibility to ensure that students live in environments where their safety, wellbeing and dignity are protected alongside their academic ambitions.
