More than 400 students from North Karnataka aboard Hampi Express could not appear in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) last week as the train was delayed for around 8 hours.
Most of these students are from the district of Ballari in North Karnataka and were expecting to reach Bengaluru or nearby location by 7 am hours ahead of the NEET examination timing of 2.00 pm. The good news is that these students are to be given another chance.
Students Blame State Government For Missing Neet Exam
The 16591 Hampi Express that runs from Hampi to Bengaluru via Mysuru reached the city at 2.36 pm. Since the train was delayed by more than 7 hours, the students could not reach the exam center on time.
The exam center officials did not allow them to sit for the exam which is why the students started mass tweeting tagging the Union Human Resource Minister Prakash Javadekar. The minister in his post on Twitter announced that these students will be given another chance.
Happy to announce that #Karnataka Students who missed #NEET exam , due to railway delay will get another chance.@MoHFW_INDIA @HRDMinistry @PIB_India @MIB_India @DG_NTA @cbseindia29 @ciet_ncert @DDNewsLive @airnewsalerts @DVSBJP@CMofKarnataka
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) May 6, 2019
While talking to the press, one of the students Rampure Sai Srinivas said that he was denied entry to the exam hall because he was late.
Srinivas said, “Even though we have been wronged due to no fault of our own, the exam center officials denied us our chance. When we spoke about the rain delay, he denied knowledge. I have got information about my friends who had got seats in other exam centers, they have also been denied a chance to write the exam.”
He further added, ”It is not we who are responsible for this delay, It is all because of the politicians and railways. They are responsible. We, students, are now in a pathetic situation. But officials do not have the courtesy even to address our concerns. I want to know what would have been the case if the son of a politician or a railway department official’s son is made to stand outside the gate? We need a solution, give us a chance to write the exam.”
Hundreds of students miss NEET exam in Karnataka due to train delay https://t.co/tVqsPJxUuF pic.twitter.com/UXtwVOx598
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) May 5, 2019
Former CM Demands Re-examination
Srinivas also blamed the state government saying that they should have arranged buses for the students who were unable to reach in time due to delay in train.
As usual, the blame-game of the politicians started with the former Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddarmaiah blaming the Railway Minister and demanding that the Prime Minister should make sure that the students are allowed to give the NEET exam on a later date.
Mr. @narendramodi,
You pat your own back for others' achievements but will you also take the responsibility for your cabinet min' incapabilities.
Hundreds of students in Karnataka may not be able to take up NEET because of delay in the train services.
1/2— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 5, 2019
A statement released by the South Western Railway said, “Hampi Express from Hubli to Mysuru is presently being run on diverted route via Bellary-Rayadurga-Chikjajur-Arsikere-Tumakuru instead of the original route of Bellary-Guntakal-Dharmavaram-Penukonda- Yelahanka due to ongoing Non-interlocking working for doubling between Guntakal -Kalluru. The diverted route is 120 km longer than the previous route and involves engine reversal at Bellary. In addition to this on Saturday, the departure of this train from Hubli had to be rescheduled by 120 minutes.”
Admissions for the medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) undergraduate courses in various colleges across the country are conducted through the NEET exam. The examination is recognized by both the Medical as well as Dental Councils of India.
