Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 9: Due to frequent power outages and a lack of central heating, students at Kashmir University’s girl’s hostels are shivering in the bitter cold as the Valley continues to reel under sub zero temperatures.
The students told Excelsior that the University has neglected to upgrade the electrical transformer that supplies electricity to all three girls’ hostels, including Habba Khatoon, Quratul-ain, and Bibi Amina hostels.
They said that this is the reason for the frequent power outages that leave the students shivering in cold temperatures. They said that the almost 1,000 female students from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh who were staying at these hotels were the only ones forced to endure the cold while the rest of the university got ample electricity.
The students complained that the transformer frequently runs into technical problems because it has not been upgraded over time. “We have been compelled to go without electricity at night for the past week or two,” a student said, adding that the administration needs to either establish a central heating system or upgrade the transformer so that the students can use electric equipment to stay warm throughout the winter.
The students said that despite holding many protests and even sending a representation to the university administration, nothing has happened as of yet. “This is how the university treats the female students who have travelled from far-off places to get an education here,” another student said.
The students said that although the administration had given them a generator, it could only be used for lights. “We would not have complained if the area was not freezing. Due to this cold, several girls have fallen ill,” students said.
Nissar Ahmad, the Registrar of Kashmir University, said that they are investigating the matter and hope to have a solution soon. “We must first determine whether or not the electricity is being utilized wisely before we can find a solution. We never want students to endure any kind of suffering,” he added.
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