Ceiling at Mumbai University hostel peels off; angry hostelites blame authorities

Savitribai Phule Girls' hostel at the Kalina campus of Mumbai University has been going through a rough patch, after authorities have turned a deaf ear to the woes of the boarders.

A year after the sorry state of the hostels' mess made news, new images have emerged of rest rooms being left in a dilapidated condition; ceilings in the washrooms are cracking, and layers of concrete are peeling off.
Part of the ceiling which was leaking earlier, fell on the first floor in B wing of the hostel on December 21. Although no one was hurt, many students in close proximity escaped injuries.

The hostel houses around 100 postgraduates and PhD students who are still in shock about the wreck.

Expressing the students' agitation at the lapse of responsibility on the part of the management, a hostelite said: "I hope the governing body is not waiting for any casualty before taking adequate measures in the favor of students. It is very scary. My friends and I can only sleep in the wee hours of the morning."

Fearing a complete collapse, the hostelites have raised their concerns, pleading the authorities to relocate them, before instituting renovation and restoration of the building.

Sanjay Vairal, senate member, MU, said: "The concerned authorities should take immediate action in restoring the building and facilitating students with basic amenities. This could lead to major accidents, if it goes unnoticed. Instead of streamlining to only science and commerce, the management should also focus at civics."

After being contacted twice by dna, hostel warden Prof. Urvashi Pandya said that she was busy with an important meeting, after which she did not respond to calls or messages.