NEET aspirant Khushbu Patel, 20, found dead in Kota flat; probe under way
Synopsis
A 20-year-old NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh was found dead in her Kota flat on 26 August, discovered by her younger sister who was preparing for JEE in the same city. With the cause of death unconfirmed pending post-mortem, the case renews scrutiny on student welfare in India's high-pressure coaching capital.
Key Takeaways
Khushbu Patel , 20 , a NEET aspirant from Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh , was found dead in Kota on 26 August .
Her younger sister Khushi , who was preparing for JEE , discovered her unresponsive after returning from coaching class.
The two sisters had been living in Kota since 2023 and had recently shifted to a flat in the Landmark City area.
Khushbu was taken to MBS Hospital , where she was declared dead; her body is in the mortuary pending post-mortem.
The exact cause of death has not been established; Kunhadi police are investigating and questioning witnesses.
The family from Chhatarpur is expected to arrive before the post-mortem is conducted.
A 20-year-old National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant, Khushbu Patel, was found dead in a rented flat in the Kunhadi area of Kota, Rajasthan, on 26 August. The student, originally from Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, had been living with her younger sister while attending coaching classes in the city. The exact cause of death has not yet been established; police have launched an investigation.
How the Death Came to Light
Khushbu's younger sister, Khushi, discovered her in an unresponsive state after returning from her own coaching class. When repeated knocks on the door went unanswered, Khushi entered the room and found her sister unconscious. She immediately alerted neighbours and contacted the police.
Kunhadi police arrived promptly and rushed Khushbu to MBS Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. Her body has been shifted to the hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Background: Two Sisters, Two Exams
According to police, Khushbu and Khushi had come to Kota in 2023 to pursue competitive exam preparation — Khushbu for NEET and Khushi for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). The two sisters had been attending coaching classes regularly and reportedly shifted to a rented flat in the Landmark City area in July 2025.
Their family in Chhatarpur has been informed and is expected to reach Kota shortly. The post-mortem will be conducted only after the family arrives, according to police.
Investigation Under Way
Police are currently questioning Khushi and residents in the vicinity to piece together the circumstances surrounding the death. Investigators are also collecting evidence from the scene. The precise cause of death, including whether it was a case of suicide or otherwise, is expected to be confirmed following the post-mortem report and further inquiry.
Kota's Ongoing Student Welfare Crisis
This incident adds to a troubling pattern in Kota, which hosts hundreds of thousands of students each year preparing for India's most competitive entrance examinations. Student deaths in the coaching hub have drawn repeated calls from educators, mental health advocates, and policymakers for stronger institutional safeguards. Authorities have in the past introduced measures such as mandatory counselling sessions and restrictions on hostel room locks, though critics argue enforcement remains inconsistent.
The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected once the post-mortem findings are available.
Point of View
Family grief, brief political attention, and then silence until the next incident. What is missing is a credible, publicly reported count of student deaths in the city each year, broken down by exam category and living arrangement. Without that data, policy responses remain reactive and anecdotal. The coaching industry's economic weight in Kota creates a structural disincentive to transparency, and that is the contradiction mainstream coverage consistently underplays.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Khushbu Patel and why was she in Kota?
Khushbu Patel was a 20-year-old NEET aspirant from Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. She had been living in Kota since 2023, along with her younger sister Khushi, to attend coaching classes for their respective competitive examinations.
How was Khushbu Patel found dead?
Her younger sister Khushi discovered her unresponsive in their rented flat in Kota's Kunhadi area after returning from coaching class on 26 August. Khushi alerted police, who rushed Khushbu to MBS Hospital, where she was declared dead.
What is the cause of Khushbu Patel's death?
The exact cause of death has not yet been established. Police are investigating the circumstances and a post-mortem examination will be conducted after the family arrives from Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh.
What is the status of the police investigation?
Kunhadi police have registered a case and are questioning Khushbu's sister Khushi and residents in the vicinity. Evidence is being collected from the scene; findings from the post-mortem are expected to clarify the cause of death.
Why are student deaths in Kota a concern?
Kota hosts a large number of students each year preparing for competitive exams like NEET and JEE under intense pressure. Student deaths in the city have recurred over the years, prompting calls for better mental health support and welfare measures at coaching institutions.
