Air India job interview leads to stampede-like situation in Mumbai
Mumbai: An Air India recruitment drive for airport loaders resulted in a near-stampede at Mumbai airport yesterday, as over 25,000 applicants turned up for just 2,216 vacancies. Air India staff struggled to manage the massive crowd, leading to chaotic scenes.
Visuals showed applicants jostling to reach the form counters, with reports indicating long waits without food or water, causing many to feel unwell. Airport loaders, who load and unload luggage on aircraft, earn between ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per month, with overtime allowances pushing earnings above ₹30,000. Educational requirements are minimal, but physical strength is essential.
Among the aspirants was Prathameshwar from Buldhana district, a second-year BBA student who traveled over 400 km for the interview. "I have come to apply for the post of handyman. They are offering a salary of ₹22,500," he said. Another candidate from Rajasthan's Alwar, holding an MCom degree, was also present, seeking the job due to the attractive salary despite preparing for government exams.
This incident follows a similar scenario in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, where a recruitment drive for just 10 posts led to a stampede-like situation. The Congress party criticized the BJP's handling of unemployment, while BJP MP Mansukh Vasava blamed the private firm for poor management.
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad criticized the BJP, stating that the unemployment crisis has worsened over the past decade. Air India has yet to respond to the viral video from the Mumbai event.
#Watch | 600 jobs, 25,000 seekers: #AirIndia drive sets off stampede fear in Mumbai.
— NDTV (@ndtv) July 17, 2024
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
