Exam Stress Drives Vadodara Teen to Goa After Taking ₹3 Lakh From Home

A case highlighting the growing pressure faced by school students has emerged from Gujarat, where a 17-year-old boy from Vadodara ran away from home after allegedly taking ₹3 lakh, including money meant for his sister’s UPSC examination fees. The teenager was traced safely in Goa following a multi-state police search and later told investigators that academic stress had driven him to take the extreme step.

The incident came to light when the boy, a resident of Vadodara’s Sama-Savali Road area, quietly left his house late at night earlier this week. According to police officials, nothing appeared unusual at the time. He reportedly asked his mother and sister to go to sleep around midnight and then went to his room.

The next morning, the family realised something was wrong when a domestic help arrived and found the front door open. The teenager was missing, and a check of the house revealed that ₹3 lakh kept in a safe had disappeared. Police said the amount included funds set aside for his sister’s Union Public Service Commission examination fees, significantly deepening the family’s distress.

Adding to concerns, the boy’s mobile phone was switched off. Before leaving, however, he had sent a message to his school teacher stating that he would not be attending classes that day. The family immediately approached the police, prompting the launch of an intensive search operation.

Multiple teams from the local police station were formed, and CCTV footage from the neighbourhood helped reconstruct the teenager’s movements. Cameras showed him leaving the house with a backpack at around 1:45 am. Investigators later discovered that he hired a taxi to Mumbai, from where he picked up a friend and continued his journey to Goa by another taxi.

Police officials noted that the travel appeared unusually well planned for someone of his age. With no direct contact established, investigators relied on technical surveillance and discovered that a new SIM card had been activated on the boy’s phone. Tracking the signal eventually led police teams to a beachside location in Goa.

When officers reached the spot, they found the teenager and his friend sitting casually at a beach resort. By then, police estimated that the boy had already spent over ₹50,000 within two days.

During questioning, the teenager reportedly broke down and told officers that he had been overwhelmed by the pressure of Class 11 examinations. He said he felt suffocated and needed a break from academic expectations. According to police sources, he planned to stay away for about a week before returning home.

Both boys were brought back to Vadodara and handed over to their families after counselling. No criminal case has been registered, as the teenager is a minor and was traced safely. Police officials also advised the family to remain attentive to signs of stress and seek professional support if required.

Senior officers said the episode underscores the emotional burden many students carry silently. They stressed the importance of parents and educators recognising behavioural changes early and creating supportive environments to help students cope with academic pressure.