Hyderabad: Over the past several months, students across multiple govt medical colleges in Telangana have had frequent sightings of venomous snakes, scorpions and other reptiles inside hostel campuses and, in some cases, even inside rooms. If that’s not all, two students were recently stung by scorpions while preparing for their university examinations at Govt Medical College (GMC), Medak.Students from Mahabubnagar, Asifabad, Vikarabad and other colleges also echoed similar concerns, sharing photos and videos with TOI.Highlighting what they termed official neglect, students attributed the problem to campuses located amid forests, farmland and hilly terrain, coupled with overgrown vegetation, poor lighting, inadequate maintenance and delays in permanent infrastructure.
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“The 15-acre campus has only about two acres in active use, while the remaining land is covered with dense vegetation, creating ideal conditions for reptiles. Venomous snakes including cobras, kraits and Russell’s vipers have been repeatedly spotted around the hostel and have even entered rooms many times. There is also an acute shortage of security guards, with only two deployed for the entire campus,” said a 2nd-year MBBS student at GMC Medak.Started in 2024, the college currently houses around 100 students in a temporary hostel functioning from private premises as construction of the permanent campus is still pending.While health and college authorities issued a rejoinder on July 8 claiming regular pest-control measures were being carried out, anti-snake powder had been spread, vegetation cleared and no student had suffered a snakebite on the premises, students insisted the threat continues.“We spotted an Indian rock python behind the hostel as recently as Tuesday (July 14). We have repeatedly shared photos and videos in hostel WhatsApp groups and informed the warden and principal. Herbicides and pesticides are sprayed periodically, but the effect lasts only for a few days,” the student added.Students said hostel messes in several colleges are located 300-400 metres away from the hostel buildings, forcing them to walk through poorly lit stretches after dark, increasing the risk of encounters with snakes and scorpions.At GMC Asifabad, students said the campus is bordered by forest land and a canal, making snake sightings routine. “Cobras, vipers and scorpions are frequently seen on the campus and hostel premises. We often carry sticks while walking at night and sometimes use buckets to trap snakes before informing authorities,” said a 3rd-year MBBS student, adding that repeated complaints have yielded little improvement.Students at GMC Mahabubnagar, functioning since 2016 on a sprawling campus surrounded by hilly terrain, reported similar experiences. A third-year student said snakes, scorpions and even monkeys are common, especially during early mornings and evenings. “Indian cobras have occasionally entered hostel buildings. Though vegetation is cleared periodically, the problem returns every monsoon,” the student said. In June 2025, students had also raised alarms after CCTV footage showed snakes crawling through hostel corridors.Students from GMC Vikarabad also highlighted frequent snake sightings and poor hostel maintenance .The complaints come against the backdrop of broader infrastructure deficiencies flagged by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which in 2025 issued deficiency notices to 26 govt medical colleges in Telangana over shortcomings including faculty shortages, incomplete infrastructure and hostel facilities.Medical bodies said the repeated incidents expose larger infrastructure gaps in the state’s medical education.“We brought the issue to the notice of the DME after the Medak incident. They assured us that inspections would be conducted. Several newer colleges, including Medak, Ibrahimpatnam and Quthbullapur, are still functioning from temporary or rented hostels because permanent facilities have not yet been completed or handed over,” said Telangana Junior Doctors Association, president Dr G Vikram.Senior doctors said the situation reflects neglect of student welfare. “Students should be preparing for university examinations, not worrying about venomous snakes or scorpions entering their rooms. Ensuring a safe living environment is the government’s basic responsibility,” said Dr V Arun Kumar, pathologist and former TSRDA president.TSRDA president Dr Ashish Ankem said the incidents reflected a lack of preparedness and preventive measures, particularly in campuses surrounded by dense vegetation. “What happened in Medak should serve as a wake-up call. Such conditions not only endanger students but also dent morale at a time when the country is already witnessing a brain drain in medical education,” he added.FAIMA president Dr D Srinath said the recurring reptile menace reflected delays in developing permanent campuses and hostel infrastructure, calling for intensive pest-control drives, better sanitation, improved lighting and regular safety inspections.Acknowledging the concerns, Additional DME Dr M Ramadevi said most of Telangana’s govt medical colleges were established on the outskirts because of land availability. She said the govt is finalising a statewide Integrated Hospital Facility Management System (IHFMS) contract under which a common agency will provide sanitation, housekeeping, security and pest-control services across all government medical colleges. “Once the sanitation contract is in place, regular pest-control measures will also be carried out,” she added.
