Visakhapatnam: Around 20 students who missed their JEE (Main) Session 2 exam in Pendurthi on Monday claimed that traffic congestion caused by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s convoy was the reason they couldn’t reach the exam centre on time.
The students and their parents said the convoy moved along the same road during exam hours, leading to heavy security and police presence, which disrupted normal traffic flow. As a result, many students reached the centre after the reporting deadline.
“Despite pleading with the staff, we weren’t allowed in,” said a group of students. “We’ve been preparing for this exam for two years. Missing it because of no fault of ours is heartbreaking.”
They have urged the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct a special test and appealed to the state government to intervene.
One of the parents, M Lakshmi Sudha, said, “My son had been preparing for this day for two years. But the traffic jam caused by the convoy made him late. His future now hangs in the balance.”
Another parent added, “My daughter missed the exam by just two minutes. We are requesting the government to allow a re-exam for the affected students.”
However, Visakhapatnam Police denied the allegations, stating that traffic was not halted for the Deputy CM’s Pawan Kalyan’s convoy. “Monday had the lowest number of absentees, including late arrivals, since the second JEE session began on April 2. Only 30 students were absent, compared to the usual 60 to 80,” said a senior police official.
Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi also clarified that, according to the admit card, candidates were required to report between 7:00 am and 8:30 am, with the gates closing sharply at 8:30 am. “Traffic near the exam centre was not blocked,” he confirmed.
As the debate continues, affected students and their families are hoping for a resolution that doesn’t compromise their academic future.
