Symbiosis and other colleges shut in Pune

A large number of premier colleges and educational institutions including the Symbiosis International University (SIU) have closed their campuses for atleast one week following the outbreak of swine flu infections across the entire Pune city. Apart from SIU, the ILS Law College, the Mercedes Benz International School and MIT school of management (MITSOM) too have decided to close teaching activities for atleast a week to avoid spreading of the H1N1 virus among students.

Pune city alone has reported more than 160 positive cases of H1N1 infection and the number of growing fast. Out the infected people, more than 100 are students, which has become a cause of concern for the civic authorities.

 

The SIU has decided to close it main campus that runs the arts and commerce college and sees more than 5,000 students and visitors daily. A student from this college was found infected with the swine flu virus following which, the decision was taken, the official stated.

The Bishop's Education Society (BES), which runs three schools in the city, has also decided to close the school between August 10 and August 19 as a precautionary measure. "We have rescheduled our monsoon break as we want to ensure that students are safe," a statement issued by the school said.

The ILS Law College has decided not to hold attendance for a week as students are being forced to sit at home by parents in the wake of recent developments. The MITSOM management too decided to close it college for a week after a student was detected positive of H1N1 infection.

With this development, the number of schools and education institutions shut in Pune city has crossed 15 and the number is expected to increase over next three to four days.