Bhubaneswar: Utkal University, located in the capital of Odisha, has decided to postpone its mid-semester examinations indefinitely due to a health emergency triggered by waterborne illnesses among students in the hostels, with symptoms including jaundice and severe diarrhea.
An official announcement regarding the suspension of exams was released by the Chairman of the Postgraduate (PG) Council’s office.
This health crisis emerged shortly after female students returned to the campus on October 27, following the Durga Puja festival break. Two students from Ladies Hostel No. 7 tested positive for jaundice on October 31 and November 1. Papesh Kumar Lenka, an assistant professor of sociology and the university’s media representative, confirmed that both students were later hospitalized.
As the symptoms began to appear in two women’s hostels, officials from public health, medical teams, and a surveillance unit from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) conducted inspections of the campus to evaluate the situation. Suspecting contamination of the water supply, the university authorities promptly suspended the use of the campus borewell, which is the main water source for the 300 residents of Hostel 7, and initiated a thorough cleaning and sanitation process for all hostel water storage tanks. Medical staff collected blood samples from over 30 students to test for additional infections, while BMC teams secured water samples for laboratory analysis.
In light of the situation, the university sought direct assistance from the state health department on Monday and implemented extensive containment strategies. A control room, a temporary pharmacy, and a public health service center have been established on campus to address medical issues. To ensure safe drinking water, the administration distributed approximately 1,000 liters of purified mineral water throughout the hostels and issued guidelines advising all residents to consume only boiled water. Awareness campaigns are currently in progress to inform students about safe drinking methods, food hygiene, and the importance of promptly reporting any symptoms of illness.
