Train delay, change in exam centres bars students from taking

A delayed Hampi express train and change of examination centres reportedly without any prior information prevented a large number of students from appearing for the NEET examination here Sunday.

Students ran from pillar to post in a vain bid to appear for the exam.

As the chaos marred the examination in Bengaluru, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy joined students and their parents to demand that a special examination for those who could not appear for NEET be held.

In a tweet he said, hundreds of students from North Karnataka districts missed the test here due to a 7-hour delay of the Hampi Express train.

A last-minute change in the exam centres and lack of proper communication of the same has created confusion among students, the chief minister tweeted.

"I request PM @narendramodi, Rail Minister @PiyushGoyal, @HRDMinistry, @PrakashJavdekar to intervene and ensure that students who have missed the opportunity today get another chance to write the NEET 2019 Exam," he added.

According to the information received, the exam was supposed to start at 2 PM Sunday.

Students from North Karnataka, especially from Hubballi, Ballari, Hospet and nearby areas relied on Hampi Express which was supposed to reach Bengaluru at 7 AM.

However, the train reached Bengaluru only at 3 PM.

"The train was supposed to reach Ballari in Hospet at 10.45 am but it was not in sight. It reached Hospet at 1.30 pm," said Vinod, a student from Hospet.

Jyothi S Samantri from Ballari poured out her woes in her Facebook post.

She said, "The train that was supposed to reach Bengaluru at 5.30 am is still at Ballekere. The exam starts at 2 pm. Unable to find a way out, parents are struggling."
There are no timings for the diverted route. Earlier the scheduled time of reaching Bengaluru was 7 am."