Chandigarh: The condition of electrical wiring at Panjab University belies assurances of a safety audit in the wake of research scholar Jyoti’s death. Visiting hostels on campus, TOI found exposed wiring, broken switchboards, open electrical panels and water seepage around electrical installations. Hostel residents said these issues have persisted for years.At Boys’ Hostel No. 2, electrical cables run across a hostel corridor on the ground floor. Hostel warden Anuj Kumar attributed this to an ongoing rewiring project.“These wires do not have electrical current. New wiring work is being carried out in the hostel and old wiring is being replaced. The cables visible in the corridor are part of the installation work,” he said.Still, the place looks hazardous, with wires protruding from unfinished wall-mounted junction boxes and several cables exposed.Things are no better in boys’ hostel no. 8, where damaged switchboards hang with its outer cover broken, its internal electrical fittings exposed.Girls’ Hostel No 6 also has an electrical socket and switch assembly with its outer cover missing, leaving electrical components visible. Also, a water cooler is plugged into a switchboard with exposed wires and MCBs.At Boys’ Hostel No. 6, loose cables emerge from a damaged cabinet on the first floor of Block 3, while another electrical enclosure on the stairs contains exposed wiring. Water seepage marks add to the danger. Residents alleged that dampness in the walls during rain often causes sparking.In the wake of Jyoti’s death, such conditions have left hostel residents apprehensive.“After what happened, students have become much more cautious. Things that went unnoticed earlier are now causing alarm,” said a resident of Boys’ Hostel No. 6.Associate Professor Ajay Kumar Dogra, who is the hostel warden, said he had taken charge recently and maintenance issues were being addressed.“I joined in June. We are working on all such issues. Every complaint has already been forwarded to the XEN office. Someone from the engineering wing visited the hostel this evening. Hopefully, everything will be sorted out soon. I have also informed all residents to immediately report any such issue so that it can be taken up without delay,” Dogra said.At Girls’ Hostel No. 6, warden Prof Supreet Thapar said she had not received any complaint about electrical fittings.“I have not received any complaint, either written or verbal, regarding any electrical issue. We have a dedicated electrician for the hostel. Whenever any complaint is received, it is attended to immediately. Such issues are taken care of without delay,” she said.That is markedly different from what hostel residents say. According to them, exposed wiring, damaged switchboards and unfinished electrical work had been visible for months, with action on complaints delayed.“Most of these things have been there for a long time. In the monsoon, it is common for MCBs to trip after heavy rain. Sometimes there are sparks from electrical fittings too, and then complaints are made,” said a PhD scholar from Boys’ Hostel No. 6.The tragedy of Jyoti’s death has brought the spotlight on electrical safety on PU campus. The Vice-President/Chancellor has directed the varsity to undertake a safety audit of the campus. A three-member committee constituted by the Chandigarh administration is also examining the circumstances that led to Jyoti’s death.Box- What TOI found–Exposed cables running across a corridor in Boys’ Hostel No 2–Damaged switchboard with exposed fittings in Boys’ Hostel No 8–Electrical socket with outer cover missing and exposed MCBs in Girls’ Hostel No 6–Open electrical enclosure with exposed wires in Boys’ Hostel No 6–Water seepage marks around electrical installations in Boys’ Hostel No. 6–Electrical cabinet containing exposed wiring also being used for storage of discarded materialBox- Budget for electrical maintenanceUniversity budget documents indicate that electrical maintenance has received significant allocations over the yearsFor 2026-27, the university earmarked Rs 80 lakh to outsource electrical repair and maintenance worksOf this, the budget document specifies that 40% is meant for hostels and 60% for other university buildingsSeparate allocationsSeparate allocations have also been made for hostel electrical works in recent budgets. Budget records show that Rs 68.8 lakh was sanctioned for rewiring and electrical installation at Boys’ Hostel No. 2, while Rs 59.2 lakh was sanctioned for similar works at Girls’ Hostel No. 2. The university has also provided Rs 16.88 lakh for augmentation of the electrical system for Girls’ Hostels 8, 9, 10 and 11, the International Hostel, Community Centre, Boys’ Hostel No. 8, the Emerging Area and UIAMS on the South Campus.
