By: Gul Owais
Srinagar: A day after Precious Kashmir reported non-adherence of COVID-19 SOPs in Gandhi College here, at least two students tested positive in the college after a team from Health Department visited the institute to take samples of the students and staff there.
However, the college administration has ordered closure of the institute as precautionary measure till further orders.
On Monday, Precious Kashmir had reported that the college authorities here are risking the lives of students by not ensuring strict adherence to the set guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). “Social distancing, which is one among the major preventive measures is being violated as the administration is not paying any heed to ensure that the virus is prevented from spreading,” sources had said.
At around 12:00 PM today, a team from Maharaj Gunj visited the College to take samples of students in the college premises. However, two students were tested positive, thus indication the loopholes in ensuring the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for preventing the virus from spreading.
Sources informed that the sampling process at the College got halted as some students entered into a scuffle in which a youth sustained grievous injuries and was later rushed to the nearby medical facility for treatment.
“There is complete mess within the college premises vis-à-vis adherence to the COVID SOPs. One fails to understand why there is no strictness by the College administration in this regard,” some insiders said.
“There are people especially staff who try to ensure strict adherence to COVID guidelines, but when there is no reciprocation from the top level, all the efforts simultaneously go in vain,” they said.
Sources said that the samples of students at the college would be taken again for testing to ensure that the infected students are isolated.
Principal of the College, Asmat Abbas when contacted confirmed the detection of positive cases at the college, saying that two students who had come for admission were tested and subsequently tested positive.
“From last three days, the samples are being collected and so far one teacher and two students have tested positive,” she said, adding that the sampling will be done tomorrow as well.
About precautionary measures, she said they have decided to close the institute till further orders.
