Chandigarh: A 20-year-old youth, reportedly an outsider, fell from the fourth-floor balcony of Boys Hostel-6 at Panjab University on Sunday night, escaping with a fracture in his leg but triggering fresh concerns over unchecked entry of non-residents into campus hostels.The incident occurred near Room 121 in Block-2 of the hostel. According to residents, the youth was engaged in a heated argument over a phone call moments before the fall. He was rushed to a hospital following the incident, and doctors said his injuries were not life-threatening.Hostel authorities said the youth was not a resident. BH-6 warden Anuj Kumar said the individual had come to meet a friend. However, several students alleged that he had been staying in the hostel for some time.Documents accessed later revealed that the youth is enrolled as a BA student through distance education, further fuelling concerns over illegal stay in residential hostels meant exclusively for regular students.The incident has once again highlighted lapses in campus security. Just days ago, university security officials acknowledged that outsiders were found staying in BH-6 following a heated altercation and alleged misconduct outside Boys Hostel-7, which had required police intervention. The fall also revives memories of a November 2024 incident in which an outsider allegedly died due to a suspected drug overdose inside Boys Hostel-7, exposing serious gaps in access control and monitoring.“Anyone can walk in. There is no strict verification,” a hostel resident alleged.
