PhD scholar dies of electrocution on PU campus, students protest over safety

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Chandigarh, July 28

A 28-year-old PhD scholar at Panjab University (PU) died after allegedly being electrocuted while walking to her department on Tuesday morning, triggering protests by students who accused the university administration of negligence and demanded accountability over campus safety.

The deceased, Jyoti, a resident of Rewari, Haryana, was pursuing her PhD in the Department of Microbiology and staying in Girls’ Hostel-10. According to university officials, she was heading to her department via an unpaved pathway between Girls’ Hostel-8 and the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), as the usual route had become waterlogged following heavy rainfall.

Officials said she allegedly came into contact with an electric current, believed to have originated from a nearby electrical installation, and collapsed. Fellow students and university staff rushed her to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector-16, where doctors declared her dead.

Her body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, and Chandigarh Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her tragic death. Officials are examining whether the current came from an electric pole, streetlight, exposed wire, junction box or another faulty electrical source. Action will be taken after the post-mortem and technical reports are received.

The incident sparked protests outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office, with students and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) demanding strict action against those responsible for maintaining the campus electrical infrastructure. Protesters alleged that rainwater frequently accumulates near the girls’ hostel and that repeated complaints about electrical hazards being faced by the students have been ignored.

A protesting student said Jyoti was due to get married next month and claimed the tragedy could have been prevented with proper maintenance of the campus infrastructure.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig met the protesters and assured them that a committee would investigate the incident. “It is an unfortunate incident, and we will do whatever we can to get to the root of the truth. If anyone is responsible for the incident, responsibility will be fixed,” she said.

Despite the assurance, students continued their protest, demanding immediate accountability and a comprehensive electrical safety audit of the campus to prevent similar incidents. The investigation is ongoing.