A life cut short

Something very tragic has happened in our college. A second year, student, Manoj Kumar has died of malaria. But the doctors are not themselves sure on this. For about 10 days or so doctors were treating him for cerebral malaria. It was only when his platelet count dropped rapidly that the doctors started a course for dengue fever. But by then it was too late and he breathed his last.

Now some very serious questions are involved in this case.The first is the unenthusiastic, rather apathetic of the administration towards student grievances. The complaints of the students, especially hostelites are genuine and reasonable. The campus is huge and grasses and all sorts of vegetation grow on the fallow ground. On paper there is a provision for a contractor who cuts grasses after the rainy season. .But to maximize profits there are delays in cutting operations. By this time the campus is buzzing with mosquitos and there is a mini epidemic of malaria and related diseases. And this goes on year after year, with the authorities turning a blind eye. Given the sorry state of affairs, it has been very lucky there is only one fatality. Will the state of affairs improve or will it take more deaths of students who have come from far to drive home the point. And since this post would not be effective if I do not provide some details, our college is the National Institute of Techonology,Surat which claims to be the best institute for engineering  studies in this part of India along with IIT Bombay and a few others. And yes folks, I’m a hostelite and frankly speaking, I’m scared of malaria.