‘Remains of a monkey, dead pigeon’ found in water tanks, Panjab University students protest

The students said they checked the water tanks after a student fell ill and complained of severe vomiting. “One of the students, Rajbir, fell ill two months ago. He complained of severe vomiting. He went home and recovered. When he returned last week, he fell ill again. Doctors at Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16 asked us to check the water tank once,” Arshdeep Kamboj, USO president, told The Indian Express.

A contaminated water tank supplying water to Arts Block 1, Panjab University, Chandigarh. (Courtesy: Student)

“We checked his PG’s water tank first but it was fine. Then, we went upstairs to check the water tanks here and found this. It looked like it had not been cleaned for years. A dead monkey was found here. A dead pigeon was found in another tank. It was stinking as well. We could not open the lids of the two other tanks,” he added. Students also alleged that the water tanks were not covered.

The Arts Block 1 has over 800 students. One building houses four departments – Punjabi, Sanskrit, English and Evening Studies, Kamboj said, adding that instead of debating whose jurisdiction the tanks fall under, it was the duty of the campus authorities to provide clean water.

“Definitely there was something…,” PU DSW Professor Amit Chauhan said. “I have directed the staff and security officer to show what was there inside…there were orders to clean it right away… and we will ensure clean water for students,” he added.

Meanwhile, PU authorities maintained that they got the water tank “cleaned immediately” after the students showed videos of the bones.