Two postgraduate students of Andhra Medical College (AMC) in Visakhapatnam, one in her final year and the other in her first, have allegedly died by suicide within five days. The police are conducting a detailed inquiry into both deaths on the orders of Commissioner of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi.

On September 24, P. Sailaja, a final-year postgraduate student in General Medicine, died at her residence under the III Town police station limits. Her family told the police that career-related stress could have been a factor. The III Town police registered a case and began an investigation.

On September 28, Y. Sravani, a first-year ENT student from Hyderabad, died in her rented accommodation. She had not wanted to continue with the course, according to the police’s preliminary findings.

A note left behind by her said that nobody should be held responsible for her death, the police said.

The two incidents within a week have caused concern among the AMC student community and raised questions about the pressures faced by postgraduate medical students.

If you are in distress, please reach out to Tele MANAS, the national mental health helpline, at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. It is free and available round the clock.