Pune: The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus is facing a serious rat infestation, leading to panic among students, faculty, and staff. The presence of rats has been particularly severe in hostels, libraries, and laboratories, causing major damage to students’ belongings. Complaints have been ignored for months, prompting student organizations to demand immediate action.
According to reports, two students from Hostel No. 6 have shown symptoms of rabies after being bitten by rats. Their personal belongings have also been damaged.
A formal complaint was submitted to the hostel administration three months ago, but no action was taken. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has strongly criticized the hostel authorities for negligence.
Students from the Hindi and Economics departments have repeatedly attempted to meet the main hostel warden to address the rat infestation, but their complaints have not been acknowledged. A student was bitten by rats four times on his leg, leading to hospitalization for two days. Doctors identified symptoms of rabies, raising serious concerns about student safety.
Students Demand Pest Control and Hygiene Measures
Students have reported severe damage to food, clothes, and books due to the rat infestation. Their primary demands include:
Immediate allocation of new rooms to affected students
Urgent pest control measures across all hostels
Strict hygiene protocols to prevent further infestation
The ABVP has issued a warning, stating that if immediate action is not taken, they will launch a strong protest against the administration.