Water woes, broken ceilings: Life in JNU is a struggle

Hostels and dormitories in Jawaharlal Nehru University, one of the most prestigious central universities, are reeling under basic infrastructural crisis

- Sanjay

In April 2022, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Md Fasihul Hasan suffered a "traumatic incident" after a portion of the bathroom ceiling collapsed at Sabarmati hostel and fell on his head. From Bihar's Aurangabad, Hasan had moved into the hostel in February 2022. He is now a postgraduate student of German literature.

"This happened during my second year of BA. I went to the washroom at 10:30 am and suddenly, a chunk of the ceiling fell hitting the left side of my head, back and foot. I was briefly unconscious but somehow managed to come out," Hasan told Careers360. A senior noticed he was bleeding profusely and Hasan was taken to Safdarjung hospital where he received five stitches.

Doctors who treated Hasan had told him that if the chunk had fallen on the top of his head, it would have permanently impaired his faculties.

Access to higher education had come after much struggle. Hasan's mother passed away in 2019; his father, a driver, worked hard to send him to a top-ranking university. "It is a matter of great concern that such serious incidents are happening at such a prestigious university," he said.

Many of the central university's hostels, academic buildings and dormitories are in need of urgent repair. Students have complained that their academic activities suffer due to lack of basics like water supply, sanitation and functioning electrical equipment.

Renovation and repair of hostels has been a long-standing demand of major student organisations contesting JNU Students Union (JNUSU) elections, resuming for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2024. Over the past years, JNU saw several student protests demanding resolution of infrastructure issues. 

Satish Chandra Garkoti, Rector-I of Jawaharlal Nehru University told Careers360 that the university is adding new facilities and that minor repairs are being done continuously.