A 19-year-old National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant from Salem ended her life on Friday (June 19).S. Gopika, a resident of Vellalapuram near Chinnappampatti, had scored 440 marks in the Class 12 exams. She had appeared for NEET once but was unable to clear it. She attempted the test again earlier this year, but it got cancelled; its re-exam is scheduled to be held on Sunday (June 21).On Friday morning, she tried to end her life and was admitted to the Government Hospital in Salem, where she died in the afternoon. The Konganapuram police registered a case.Speaking to the media, Gopika's father, Sekar, and mother, Bhuvaneswari, said she completed her Class 12 at Salem Fort Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School and began preparing for NEET afterwards.She had told them that her second attempt at the test had gone well and was sad when the exam got cancelled. When her parents advised her to focus on some other course, she told them that she would give the test a try once more.On Friday morning, as they were about to leave for work, she told them that she had been allocated exam centre at Vazhapadi and asked them to drop her off there on Sunday. She looked normal, the parents said, adding: "We did not force her to study medicine; it was her choice."(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050). Published - June 19, 2026 06:51 pm IST