It was a harrowing day for Sai Srinivas, a 19-year-old MBBS aspirant, who was travelling from Ballari to Bengaluru to attempt NEET, the pan-India pre-medical entrance test for all MBBS and BDS courses. Sai got into the Hampi Express at around 10 pm on Saturday night. He was supposed to reach Bengaluru by 7am and his exam was to begin at 2pm. However, the inordinate delays at various stations along the way led him to miss his chance at attempting the entrance exam.
Speaking to TNM, Sai says that he was panicking when the train halted at the Tumakuru station at around 1.30 pm on Sunday.
"When my train reached Ariskere at around 11 am, I was really scared I would miss the exam. So I called my cousin who lives in Bengaluru and asked him to pick me up at the Tumakuru station. The train was halting at each station for 15 to 20 minutes," Sai said.
Sai's cousin Raghavendra rode on his two-wheeler all the way from Bengaluru to pick him up. "But by the time we reached Bengaluru, it was too late,” he said.
"My brother rode at 90 kmph and we reached the centre in Marathahalli at 2.50 pm. The security guard let me in and the police at the scanning centre too allowed me. But when I was about to go inside, one of the invigilators told me to go out of the exam centre. I was not able to give my exam. I only want the government to help us. There were hundreds of students in that train who were anxious. I saw many of them break down. We were all so anxious. It was terrifying for me," he added.
Sai is not the only one. Along with him in the train were scores of other NEET aspirants.
Since, this was an overnight train, the students felt it was a safe choice to reach the city six hours ahead of the exam. For many from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the train was convenient as it did not involve spending money on hotels and lodges.
Just like Sai in the train was Shashidhar, an 18-year-old student from Gangavathi in Koppal district. Shashidhar's father, who runs a tea stall in Gangavathi, had dropped him at the railway station an hour before the train arrived.
"My father was scared that I would miss the train and be late. There were so many students in the train with us. Some got off at Arasikere and some at Tumakuru and they began booking cabs or had someone pick them up. I did not have enough money to spend on a cab as it would have cost me around Rs 3,000. By the time I reached it was 2.25 pm. Devamata Central School in Vidyaranyapura said it was too late. They did not let me in. I don't know what I will tell my parents. They were so hopeful," he said.
Kushal, another Ballari-based student who had got his seat in SJR School in HRBR Layout in Bengaluru said he could only manage to reach the exam centre at 3pm.
“We want the media to highlight our issue. We want a re-examination. Even though we are not at fault we are made to suffer like this,” he told TNM.
Some of the students lost their chance at writing NEET as the examination authority had changed the exam centres just two days ago ago.
Prerana, an 18-year-old student from Kanakapura had come down to Presidency School in Doddaballapura as the NEET website had listed it as her exam centre. Upon reaching Presidency School, she saw a notice on the gate stating that the exam is being held at Dayanada Sagar College. She had missed the announcement on newspaper that the centres had been changed.
"The college is 65 km away from Presidency School. I reached the centre at 1.25 pm. I had to take a bus to Bengaluru and then take an auto to Dayanada Sagar College. The security guards outside did not let me in as I reached at 3 pm. I have prepared for this entrance exam for two years. I went to tuition early in the morning. After coming back from college, I would study for hours and wake up again to prepare for this one exam. What happens to my dreams?" Prerana said as she broke down.