JAIPUR: Another coaching student committed suicide in Kota on Thursday, taking the toll of number of pupils ending their lives in this educational hub this year to 29, of whom 17 were preparing for various entrance exams. The spate of suicides continues unchecked despite the district administration issuing a set of guidelines for the coaching institutes a fortnight ago, forcing some parents to withdraw their children mid-session.

Sumer Ram, 18, a resident of Nagaur who was preparing for pre-medical entrance exam , was found hanging in his rented accommodation on Thursday evening, just two days after a farmer’s son, also a coaching student, ended his life in a similar manner.

“Mummy, please forgive me, I am leaving you. I will remember you very much and stay close to you forever. Please don’t remember me. Papa you bore expenses of my studies for two years and never reprimanded me for anything. You gave me lots of money. Brother, please take care of my mummy. I don’t need anything from you … just that please look after our parents. I wanted to stay with you forever, but … I will come back in next life,” Sumer’s suicide note read.

Police sources said on Thursday evening, a mess worker found a note near Sumer’s room, apparently addressed to another student, which read: “I am committing suicide in the room next to yours.” The police were called in and after breaking open Sumer’s room, they found him hanging with a cable wire.

A police officer said Sumer had called up his father requesting for some money, which was transferred to his account on Thursday itself.

There are reports of jittery parents visiting their wards in Kota after recent suicides, with some of them withdrawing their children from the coaching institutes. Subhash Singh from Mahua in Madhya Pradesh said he was shocked to see his son’s plight when he visited him on a surprise visit to Kota this month. “His living conditions were worse than that of a caged animal. His room was stinking with the smell of rotten meals and fruits… that moment, I decided not to force my desire on him to see him as an engineer,” said Singh over phone from Mahua.

A marketing manager of a coaching institute admitted that last two months saw a spurt in dropouts. “If this continues, it will be no good for the business,” he said.

The number of suicides by coaching students this year has more than doubled to 17 compared to eight last year. According to an estimate, over 1.2 lakh students enrolled in various coaching institutes this year.