COVID-19: boarders at IIEST told to vacate hostel

The Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), the second oldest engineering institution of the country, has asked boarders to vacate hostel by March 21 noon.

Though its not mandatory for the foreign students, If any of them want to leave hostel he/she may do so with the permission of the Dean (students welfare),a fresh notification said.

The order issed on Wednesday also extended suspension of classes till April 15 from existing March 31 as a precautionary measure in view of the novel coronavirus threat.

The IIEST has been recognised as an Institute of National Importance under MHRD by the Government of India.

The fresh notification signed by IIEST Registrar Biman Bandyopadhyay said the hostels will remain closed till April 15.

"All boarders, except foreign students, are required to vacate the hostels latest by March 21 (12 noon).

"If any foreign student also wants to leave hostel he/she may do so with the permission of the Dean (students welfare)," the notification said.

Talking to PTI on Thursday, Bandyopadhyay said there are roughly 30-40 foreigners in IIEST, most of them from Bangladesh apart from countries like Sudan and Afghanistan.

"We don't have any update about how many of them are presently in the hostel or outside, but majority of them are staying in the hostel within the campus," he said.

Meanwhile, students and residents of IIT Kharagpur staying in the campus have been advised not to travel outside the campus and maintain social distancing.

IIT Kharagpur Registrar B N Singh told PTI on Thursday, those staying within the campus have been asked not to go outside till there is "real emergency" for which the authorities are to be informed by the concerned boarder.

He said same rule applies for the students from abroad staying in hostel.

An IIT Kharagpur spokesperson said, on the occasion of Earth Day falling on April 22, the premier technology institute will be organising an online competition and exhibition in visual arts comprising drawing/painting, poster, photo story and video.

The spokesperson said laboratory courses would remain suspended till further notice while those students, who wish to avail online facilities for classroom courses, can do so.

Classes also remain suspended in Visva Bharati, where all the students, except foreigners, have vacated their hostel since March 13.