Earthquakes with a magnitude of 2-3 on the Richter scale occur frequently, often going unnoticed. Occasionally, a wall of a weak house or a hut might collapse, but it rarely draws attention. Normal life remains unaffected, and people gradually get used to such events.

However, earthquakes with a magnitude of 5-6 can cause significant damage. Those with a magnitude of 7 or 8 lead to widespread devastation, and if the magnitude exceeds 8, it results in a major catastrophe. Hundreds of homes turn into rubble, thousands of lives are lost, millions are affected, and dreams worth billions are shattered forever.

News of an earthquake first breaks in the media, followed by immediate activation of local administration. Then state and central governments become involved, launching relief and rescue operations. People trapped under debris are rescued and sent to relief camps. Two to three days after the earthquake, the media provides poignant coverage of the destruction in affected villages.

The opposition then criticizes the government for delayed relief efforts, inadequate hospital resources, unauthorized construction of large buildings, etc.

Months later, the government enacts strict laws, initiating efforts to make buildings earthquake-resistant to minimize future damage.

The  current NEET UG exam issue is akin to such a tragedy, with an intensity that wouldn't be less than a major quake. On the day of the NEET exam, a disastrous quake affected thousands of lives. On May 5, the Bihar Police reported a major paper leak, but NTA dismissed it as a minor incident. Despite the Bihar Police's ongoing investigation, the government continued to deny the severity of the issue, with NTA not cooperating in the investigation.

Gradually, media reports revealed the vast scale of the paper leak, affecting multiple states, though its epicenter was in Patna or Hazaribagh. Affected students took to social media, sharing their shattered dreams, but no relief or rescue came. When the opposition raised the issue in the streets and parliament, the government acknowledged the paper leak but still downplayed its severity. They assured that future exams would be leak-proof, culprits would be punished, and handed the investigation to the CBI. However, students and their parents, suffering from this disaster, still await relief and rescue from any  Disaster Management Force.

Thousands of dreams are broken. Parents, who took loans for their children's education, hoping they would become doctors and repay the debts, are in deep despair. Future NEET aspirants are also in mental turmoil, unsure of their goals. Even if they score 670, will they get a government college seat? Their lives seem to have come to a standstill, unable to see the dawn of this dark night. The system talks about future measures but ignores the innocent children trapped in the NEET tragedy, their tender minds bleeding. No one seems to be there to gather their shattered dreams. Many children might stop dreaming of becoming doctors, and even if they do, having witnessed this tragedy closely, they might prefer to migrate to another country. Perhaps this country doesn't need their talent.

- Dr. Raj Shekhar Yadav