What good are exams if life is in danger? ask class 10, 12 students in fear due to Delhi violence

What good are exams if life is in danger? Who can study in such a fearful atmosphere? These are some questions hovering in the minds of students as tension persists in various areas of Delhi due to violent clashes at a time they are due to appear for the board examination.

Schools in northeast Delhi continued to be closed for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as the death toll in the communal violence over the amended citizenship law rose to 20.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal flagged that the situation has become "alarming" and the Army should be called in as police is "unable to control it".

So far, 189 people have been reported to be injured in clashes in several localities like Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Gokulpuri, Maujpur, Kardampuri and Jaffrabad saw pitched battles between the members of two groups who also hurled petrol bombs and opened fire.

"Board exams are so important for any student. We are asked to remain focused two years in advance and here literally everything is on fire right during the exam period. How can one study in such a fearful atmosphere," said Muskan Sharma, who is appearing for class 12 board examination.

Sharma is a resident of Maujpur in northeast Delhi, which has been the epicentre of the violence since Saturday.

Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Chand Bagh, said, "I have English exam tomorrow. I don't know yet whether it will be postponed or not. This kind of uncertainty and fearful vibes are so unhealthy. The thought that it is happening right around my house's corner leaves me in fear whenever there is a knock on the door."
"The situation there (northeast Delhi) is only getting worse. There have been more deaths. You should give time for the situation to settle down."