When she returned home on Saturday evening, Rasila abruptly shut herself in her room and when she emerged, she was vomitting repeatedly. Her family immediately put her into an autorickshaw but the teenager died on the way to Cooper Hospital. Before she succumbed, though, Ralisa said she had decided to commit suicide as she was not prepared for the SSC examination. Vakola police haveregistered a case of suicide.

A post-mortem examination reveals that the girl had swallowed pesticide which her father used on his farm near the colony. Her family told the police she was very sensitive, which may have prompted her to take such a drastic step.

According to Dr Hemangee Dhavale, professor of psychiatry with Nair Hospital, a survey among teachers has pinned the main cause for suicide among school students on unreasonable expectations from parents. However, both parents and teachers usually fail to read the signs and therefore cannot avert the situation, she says. Also, she adds, adolescents are much too sensitive and even the slightest adverse remark from a parent or teacher is taken very seriously.

Some parents even take leave from work during their children's exams and sit up with them through the night to ensure that they study non-stop, Dr Dhavale points out. This places immense pressure on the youngsters, who sometimes resort to suicide.