Over one lakh candidates write NEET in Kerala

Barring a few complaints from female students who were asked to shorten their long sleeved-clothes, NEET was held at various centres across Kerala today, without any major glitches.

However, tragedy struck a Tamil Nadu student, who appeared for the exam at a centre in Ernakulam district, as his father died of heart attack this morning.

In a Facebook post, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed grief over the death of 46-year-old Krishnasamy Sreenivasan, father of Kasturi Mahalingam, hailing from Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu.

He also said arrangements would be made to transport the body of Sreenivasan to his home town.

Last year, the test was mired in controversy after a girl candidate from Kannur district alleged that she was forced to remove her innerwear, while some others had to shorten sleeves and cut the pockets of their jeans to meet the prescribed dress code.

According to officials, nearly one lakh candidates, including many from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, appeared for the examination in 39 centres in 10 districts amid tight security.

Some girl students, who wrote examination in northern Kozhikode district, complained that they were asked by authorities to shorten the long sleeves of their dresses before being allowed inside the exam hall.

However, many students and parents told local television channels that prior information about the dress code given by the CBSE had helped them avoid confusion in this regard.

Students also said the physics paper was a bit tough whilebiology and chemistry papers were comparatively easier.

The Kerala government had made elaborate arrangements to help students writing the examination by setting up 'help desks' at railway stations and bus terminus.

On arrangements made by the state government, Vijayan said the help-desks were of great relief to parents and students.