Bengaluru: On Sunday, nearly 500 students appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) have missed the exam in Karnataka as the train they had taken to reach the exam centres was delayed by over six hours. The Railway ministry will write to HRD Ministry urging it to re-conduct the NEET exam for students who missed it after they reached to the examination centre late due to delay in the arrival of train in which they were travelling in Karnataka. 

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According to Indian Railways, the Hampi Express-16591, plying from North Karnataka to Bengaluru, would only reach by 2.30 pm, while the students were required to report at the exam halls by 1:30 pm. According to News18 Kannada, around 500 students might miss the exam, which is held once a year. Around 13 lakh students from across the country are taking the entrance test, conducted by the National Testing Agency, this year.

Several students have been sending SOS messages to HRD ministry over the train delay, requesting that they be allowed to sit in the exam. “@PrakashJavdekar sir we the students who are appearing for neet 2019 from ballari and hubli cities to Bengaluru train number 16591 name Hampi Express. Thus train has to reach bengaluru city at 7 AM still we are in Arsikere (180km ) far away from Bengaluru. (sic),” wrote a student, Sai Srinivas, on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticised the Centre and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal for the delay in train services. "You (Narendra Modi) 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," the Chief Minister tweeted. 

He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the students get a chance to write the exam. “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,” he wrote on Twitter.

South Western Railway Public Relation Officer (PRO) said the Railway ministry will write to HRD Ministry urging it to re-conduct the NEET exam for the said students.

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