A Panjab University research scholar died of electrocution on Tuesday morning amid heavy rain at the university’s South Campus in Sector 25, Chandigarh. The incident has raised concerns about safety on campus during extreme weather.
PhD Scholar Electrocuted on Campus During Heavy Rain
The victim has been identified as Jyoti, a 25-year-old resident of Rewari, Haryana. She was pursuing her PhD from the Department of Biotechnology at Panjab University. According to sources, Jyoti was on her way to the department from Girls’ Hostel No. 10 when she took an unpaved path to avoid waterlogging caused by the heavy rain.
According to Hindustan Times, within seconds of stepping onto the path, she came in contact with an electric current. The current is suspected to have spread from an electric junction box in the area.
Rushed to Hospital but Declared Brought Dead
Onlookers at the scene saw Jyoti fall to the ground after the shock. She was immediately rushed to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh. However, doctors at the hospital declared her brought dead upon arrival.
The family members of the victim have been informed about the tragic incident, according to the same source.
Our Take: A Preventable Tragedy That Demands Action
This is a heartbreaking and entirely preventable loss. A young researcher, simply trying to get to her department during a rainstorm, lost her life because of a faulty electrical junction box. In our view, this incident exposes a serious failure in campus safety infrastructure. Universities must urgently inspect and secure all electrical installations, especially in areas prone to waterlogging. No student should risk electrocution just to walk to class. The authorities at Panjab University need to take immediate responsibility and ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
