Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 6: Students from north Karnataka who missed the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) due to train delay can breathe a sigh of relief. They will now be awarded another opportunity to write the exam.

NEET, required for entry into professional medical courses, was held on Sunday May 5, but due to undue and unexpected train delay, students from north Karnataka missed the exam.

Human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar took to Twitter to announce, "Happy to announce that Karnataka students who missed NEET exam, due to railway delay will get another chance."

Happy to announce that #Karnataka Students who missed #NEET exam , due to railway delay will get another chance.@MoHFW_INDIA @HRDMinistry @PIB_India @MIB_India @DG_NTA @cbseindia29 @ciet_ncert @DDNewsLive @airnewsalerts @DVSBJP@CMofKarnataka

— Chowkidar Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) May 6, 2019

The National Testing Agency said the exams have been rescheduled for May 20 from 10 am to 1 pm for students who failed to appear for the test in Bengaluru due to a delay in Hampi Express.

Nearly 365 students travelling to Bengaluru to take the test were delayed as the Hampi Express from the northern part of the state was late by seven hours on Sunday. The train which was scheduled to reach Bengaluru at 7 am arrived at 3 pm. The exam was scheduled to start at 2 pm.

The move to hold a re-exam comes a day after Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy took to Twitter to request the centre to intervene. He also pointed out that a last-minute change in the exam centres and lack of proper communication of the same has created confusion among students.

Hundreds of students from North Karnataka districts have missed the #NEET Exam being held today at Bengaluru due to a 7-hour delay of the Hampi Express. A last-minute change in the exam centres and lack of proper communication of the same has created confusion among students. .

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) May 5, 2019

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 #NEET2019 Exam

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) May 5, 2019

Meanwhile, former Karnataka CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah had come down heavily on PM Narendra Modi for students missing the exam.

Mr. @narendramodi,

You pat your own back for others' achievements but will you also take the responsibility for your cabinet min' incapabilities.

Hundreds of students in Karnataka may not be able to take up NEET because of delay in the train services.
1/2

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 5, 2019

Mr. @narendramodi,

Ask @PiyushGoyal to work properly for next few days and then we will set it right. Also, ensure that the aggrieved students get another chance to write NEET exam.
2/2

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 5, 2019

On May 6, Kumaraswamy tweeted that he held a meeting with chief secretary and higher education department on the issue of 500 plus students unable to take NEET due to a train delay on Sunday.

TheCM held a meeting with the CS& Higher EduDept onthe issue of 500+ students unable to take #NEET due to a train delay on Sunday.The CS, as directed by the CM, requested HRD ministry to let students take the exam again.The ministry has assured that they will take a decision ASAP

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) May 6, 2019

After Prakash Javadekar announced that students will be given a chance to appear for NEET, CM Kumaraswamy tweeted his gratitude.

Thank you @PrakashJavdekar and @HRDMinistry for considering the request and helping our students.@hd_kumaraswamy #NEET https://t.co/XuFDAzHCkp

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) May 6, 2019

Even Siddaramaiah retweeted Javadekar’s tweet and expressed his happiness.

Happy to know that the students who missed NEET exam due to train delay are getting another chance to write. Years of hard work & determination will not go waste.

All the best!! https://t.co/1Sg1rnwlzZ

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 6, 2019

Also, in Odisha, where the NEET was postponed in view of the cyclone 'Fani', the exam will be conducted on May 20, Javadekar said. In West Bengal's Siliguri, where students at one exam centre couldn't take the test because they didn't get the question paper in the opted language Hindi, the re-examination will be held on the same day, the minister added.

• Nearly 365 north Karnataka students miss NEET due to 7-hour train delay