GNLU Students At Health RIsk: 177 Students Fall Sick that includes 93 Dengue Cases Amid Severe Outbreak and Sanitation Crisis
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) is confronting a severe public health crisis after a student census revealed that 177 students have fallen ill across campus residence halls. A staggering 93 cases of dengue have been recorded, alongside 10 cases of typhoid, 58 viral infections, 20 cases of food poisoning, and 19 other infections.
The student body released a joint statement accusing the university administration of systemic negligence regarding water safety, food hygiene, and sewage upkeep. Despite the massive spike in dengue and other serious vector-borne illnesses, students claim that authorities have responded with dismissive advisories rather than urgent structural repairs.
Water Contamination and Vector-Borne Illnesses
The campus outbreak has laid bare deep-seated failures in basic living infrastructure. Students highlighted serious contamination concerns regarding drinking water, pointing to a strong chlorinated taste and a lack of RO filtration on the third floor of Shishya Bhawan. Tensions intensified after students reportedly witnessed a water mug normally used for cleaning toilet seats being used during filter maintenance in the Boys' Hostel.
The residential blocks are facing multiple severe sanitation hazards:
- Unresolved sewage leaks near the Girls' Hostel compound causing persistent foul odours.
- Wastewater dripping continuously from a ceiling beam in front of Boys' Hostel room GF-26 for roughly a month, with animal disturbance creating extreme hygiene risks.
- Inadequate vector control, with fogging operations omitted from hostel washrooms despite the alarming surge in dengue and mosquito-borne infections.
- Foreign debris, including metal blades, stones, dead insects, and glass shards, repeatedly discovered in mess food.
Demands for Institutional Accountability
Students pay approximately INR 28,000 for maintenance and INR 42,000 for mess fees annually, but many are facing severe financial strain purchasing outside food and clean water after falling sick. Compounding the distress, students reported institutional insensitivity, noting that wardens have shamed individuals for ordering basic dietary alternatives like khichdi or idli.
The student collective has outlined urgent demands, including an independent health and safety audit by external experts, comprehensive microbiological testing for pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella Typhi, and the immediate overhaul of medical exemption policies that currently require hospitalisation for academic relief. They are also pressing for an independent monitoring committee featuring active representation from the Students' Body Association (SBA).
