A controversy arose at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee in Uttarakhand after students discovered rats in uncooked ingredients and cooking utensils in the mess of Radha-Krishna Bhawan.
The students shot video of rats in the mess, saying they discovered the rodents in rice sacks, a frying pan, and a cooker used to make rice for the students.
The shocking incident took place as students arrived at the mess for lunch
The incident occurred after on Thursday afternoon when they arrived at the mess for lunch. Some individuals peeked into the kitchen and witnessed two live rats wandering around in a frying pan.
The students were stunned after seeing it. They alleged that they were being fed rat-contaminated food, sources added.
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Students protest outside the dining hall after the incident
After the surprising incident, hundreds of students congregated outside the dining hall and organized a demonstration, calling for action.
The students voiced their frustration, stating that cleanliness and hygiene are not upheld despite IIT-Roorkee being a highly reputed institution. The students pointed out the current state of the mess, emphasizing that having the meal there could lead to severe illness.
Slogans were also raised by the students against the institute.
Institute orders investigation; ensures compliance with hygiene
After the shocking incident, the IIT-Roorkee administration stated that they have been informed about rats being in the mess of Radha-Krishna Bhawan and have initiated an inquiry.
“Immediate investigation has been started, and corrective action is being taken to ensure compliance with hygiene standards. The health and safety of the students remains the top priority. External special experts have been engaged to assess the situation and prevent such incidents in future”, Sonika Shrivastava, IIT-Roorkee’s media in-charge said.
Srivastava also mentioned that every required step is being taken to address the problem promptly, emphasizing the institute’s dedication to upholding a secure and hygienic atmosphere for all students.
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However, she refuted claims of irregularities in the management of student dining facilities. She claimed that the Institute adheres to a strict and transparent process for all contractual agreements, ensuring compliance with government guidelines and regulations.
The media in-charge of the institute dismissed allegations of unauthorized operations by third parties as ‘baseless’, stating that IIT Roorkee consistently oversees vendor activities to ensure adherence to all regulations, including food safety standards, and conducts frequent inspections to uphold top-notch service quality for students.
