Kota civic polls disrupted by EVM failures as NEET student deaths reach eight and school meal sickens 27
Kota's second phase of urban local body elections on September 11 was disrupted by EVM malfunctions at several booths, with over 87 lakh voters deciding the fate of 18,266 candidates across 147 urban local bodies. The city also confronted fresh reminders of its student welfare crisis, with Rediff reporting that another NEET aspirant's suicide pushed the year's toll to eight, while 27 children fell ill at a government school after consuming a mid-day meal. In industrial news, Fenesta commissioned a new aluminium extrusion plant in the city, while a leopard that strayed into a public garden was safely rescued after a three-hour operation.
EVM Glitches Disrupt Final Phase of Rajasthan Urban Local Body Elections
Electronic voting machine glitches disrupted polling at several booths during the final phase of Rajasthan's civic elections, DT Next reported on September 11, 2026. Polling for 147 urban local bodies began at 7 am, with more than 87 lakh voters eligible to decide the fate of 18,266 candidates, and voting was scheduled to continue until 6 pm. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was photographed casting his vote at a polling station in Kota, Rajasthan, during the second and final phase of the urban local body elections. EVM malfunctions at polling booths are a recurring concern in Indian elections, and their occurrence during the Rajasthan civic polls drew attention to the integrity of the voting process. Urban local body elections in Rajasthan determine the governance of cities and towns, with candidates competing for positions in municipal bodies responsible for local infrastructure, public services and civic administration. Kota, as one of Rajasthan's major cities, would have been among the larger centers in which polling was conducted. The disruptions caused by EVM glitches at multiple booths had the potential to delay voting and affect voter participation in the affected areas. Election management authorities are typically required to address technical failures and ensure that eligible voters are able to exercise their franchise before polling closes. [1]
Another NEET Aspirant Dies by Suicide in Kota; Death Toll Rises to Eight This Year
Another student preparing for the NEET medical entrance examination died by suicide in Kota, with the total number of such deaths in the city reaching eight for the current year, Rediff reported on August 26, 2026. The article described the death as that of another NEET aspirant, signaling this was not an isolated incident but part of a sustained pattern of student deaths by suicide in the city. Kota has long been known as India's largest hub for competitive examination coaching, particularly for NEET, which governs admission to medical colleges, and JEE, which covers engineering institutions. Students from across the country relocate to Kota and live in rented accommodations, often facing intense academic pressure while separated from their families and familiar support networks. The toll of eight NEET-related student suicides within a single year in Kota underscores the scale of the mental health crisis among the city's student population. The coaching industry that drives Kota's economy has drawn sustained criticism for placing excessive pressure on young people. Repeated incidents of student deaths have prompted calls from parents, advocacy groups and government officials for stronger mental health support systems and welfare measures for students enrolled in Kota's coaching institutes. Increased monitoring, counseling services and regulatory oversight of coaching centres have all been discussed as potential interventions. [9]
🏢 Fenesta Commissions Kota Aluminium Extrusion Plant, Opens New Business Vertical
Fenesta has commissioned a new aluminium extrusion plant in Kota, Rajasthan, expanding its presence in the aluminium value chain and opening a new business vertical for external customers, AL Circle reported on September 6, 2026. The Gurugram-based windows and doors business of DCMShriram Ltd said the facility will initially support its internal extrusion requirements, giving the company greater control over production and reducing reliance on external suppliers. The plant will also supply aluminium extrusions to original equipment manufacturers and other users, allowing Fenesta to participate directly in the broader extrusion market. Saket Jain, Business Head of Fenesta, was quoted as saying aluminium is an important and fast-evolving segment for the company, with significant potential across windows, facades and other applications. He added that the Kota extrusion plant gives the company greater control over a critical part of the value chain while strengthening its ability to innovate, scale and respond more efficiently to market requirements. The facility is expected to support the development of new aluminium systems for windows and facade businesses more quickly by bringing extrusion in-house. The move represents Fenesta's entry into the aluminium extrusion supply market beyond its own captive requirements, extending the company's commercial reach into serving OEM customers and other industry participants in Rajasthan and beyond. [5]
Three-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Molested in Kota; POCSO Case Filed Against Playschool Staff
A three-year-old girl was allegedly molested in Kota, with police investigating the role of playschool staff in the crime, ETV Bharat reported on September 9, 2026. Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, India's primary legislation for protecting minors from sexual abuse. A Forensic Science Laboratory team also collected evidence in connection with the case, as reported by Manish Gautam. A POCSO case involving a three-year-old at a playschool raises serious concerns about the safety of very young children in institutional care settings such as daycares and preschools. Under the POCSO Act, cases involving children are treated with heightened legal protections, and investigations into such cases must be conducted in a child-sensitive manner. The involvement of a forensic science team indicates that authorities treated the case with appropriate seriousness from the outset. Playschool environments are expected to provide a safe and nurturing setting for children who are often too young to communicate clearly about their experiences or seek help independently. The investigation into staff members places institutional accountability at the center of this case, highlighting the responsibility that preschool administrators and caregivers hold toward the children entrusted to their care. The case has drawn attention to child safety protocols in Kota's private educational institutions. [2]
🎓 Mid-Day Meal Scare: 27 Children Fall Ill at Kota Government School
At least 27 children fell ill at a government school in Rajasthan's Kota district on August 24, 2026, shortly after eating the mid-day meal served at the school, WION reported. The students complained of headaches, dizziness and vomiting after consuming the food. Several of the children were taken to a medical college for treatment, while authorities dispatched a medical team to the school to assess the situation. Kota District Education Officer Roop Singh Meena reached the medical college after being informed about the incident. WION described the event as a mid-day meal scare and noted it came days after a separate food incident at a school in Bihar had attracted national attention, placing the Kota incident within a broader pattern of food safety concerns in government school meal programs. India's mid-day meal program is a large-scale government initiative designed to provide nutritious food to school children and to incentivize school attendance, particularly in lower-income communities. Food safety incidents within the program have drawn criticism of the quality controls and monitoring systems applied to school meal preparation and distribution. The Kota incident, involving 27 sick children, added to public concern about the program's implementation standards and underscored the need for stronger oversight of food preparation in government schools across Rajasthan. [10]
Sources: [1] DT Next · [9] Rediff · [5] AL Circle · [2] ETV Bharat · [10] WION