16-year-old girl dies by suicide at Yousufguda; victim complained of homesickness

Hyderabad: A 16-year-old girl died by suicide in Hyderabad on July 23, after she did not get admission to her desired college. The girl, identified as Rayapuri Pooja, a resident of Yousufguda was an intermediate first-year student (MPC group) at Ekashila College in Warangal.

According to her father, Rayapuri Janardhan, “Pooja returned home after taking a homesick leave. She told us that she has no interest in studying by staying in hostels and far from her us. She said she would join a local college instead, but we did not take her seriously.”

K Ramu Naidu, SI at Jubilee Hills PS, said, “Pooja was depressed after she did not get admission to IIIT in Basara. She had also expressed her unwillingness to study in Ekashila College, as she wanted to stay close to her parents.”

“On July 18 at 4 pm, when her parents were not present at home, she locked the door from the inside and tried to commit suicide by hanging herself with a dupatta from the ceiling fan. When the parents came back, they managed to open the door from the window. They immediately freed her and took her to the Nikhil Hospital.”

Later, on July 21, they shifted her to NIMS Hospital, Panjagutta for better treatment. On July 23 at 11 pm, the doctors declared her brain dead.

Pooja’s father, Rayapuri Janardhan, filed a complaint with the police, stating that his daughter’s death was due to depression. The police have registered a case and are investigating.

Experts’ opinion

Dr Pragya Rashmi, a consultant psychologist based in Hyderabad, said that the presence of a mental health expert does not guarantee the prevention of crises or indicate incompetence, just as a cardiologist cannot prevent heart attacks.

Discussing the complex issue of suicide, Dr Pragya stressed that it cannot be attributed to a single cause. “Suicide is a complex issue with multiple factors involved, and it is not possible to attribute it to a single cause. Many tend to oversimplify suicide, but each case is unique, and different triggers may affect individuals differently,” she said.

She added, “It is important to understand that while some individuals may resort to suicide, others may find alternative coping mechanisms or seek support. Therefore, suicide cannot be attributed to a single cause like a breakup or unemployment.”

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