Video: Bangladesh Dengue deaths surpass 233 in deadly outbreak

Students at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) in Gandhinagar staged a protest on Tuesday, alleging a dengue and other infections outbreak due to poor campus hygiene. They claimed that 10% of the student population had contracted dengue, while nearly 20% fell ill. The students demanded the formation of an independent monitoring committee with student representation and external experts to oversee water quality, food safety, hostel sanitation, waste management, vector control, medical facilities, ambulance services, and corrective measures.

The campus houses around 1,100 students, and a student survey revealed that 193 students reported illnesses as of September 29. Of these, 102 had dengue, 11 had typhoid, 77 had viral infections, 28 suffered from food poisoning, and 19 had other ailments. The students noted that the actual number of cases could be higher, as many did not complete the survey form, and illnesses reported before August 21 might not be documented.

The data was presented to the Chief Faculty Warden on September 2 and to the Registrar, who acknowledged receipt.

During September 11-23, no fogging was conducted, during which 36 new students contracted dengue. Green algae and worms were found in mess water on September 10, and test reports were released only on September 28. Students are responsible for covering the average cost of Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 for treatments, which is borne entirely by them. The students argue that measures taken have been reactive, not preventive, and have only been implemented after incidents or significant damage.

The students submitted a representation to the administration, pointing out that concerns about dengue, sanitation, water, food, and hostel conditions had persisted for years. They claim that the administration has not taken substantial preventive measures for student health. GNLU Registrar Nitin Malik acknowledged the dengue cases after monsoon but stated that cases were reported not only at GNLU but also at other universities and parts of Gandhinagar. Fogging and water treatment were carried out upon reporting, he added.

The students demanded accountability for the expenditure, contractual obligations, and services delivered to students. They also emphasized that the issues had been recurring for years, and the administration's response has mostly been reactive. After assurances from the administration of meeting their demands, the protest was called off until a Wednesday meeting.