Bhubaneswar: Utkal University has indefinitely postponed its PG mid-semester exams following a suspected outbreak of waterborne diseases that have affected several students residing in the girls’ hostels No. 6 and 7 .




According to a notification issued by the office of the chairperson of the PG Council, fresh exam dates will be announced after the health situation stabilises.




University authorities said a number of students developed symptoms of diarrhoea and jaundice shortly after returning from home following the puja vacation, with some requiring hospitalisation. Taking note of the situation, the administration initiated precautionary measures and is closely monitoring the health of the affected students.




Health department officials and medical teams have been deployed, while blood samples of over 30 students have been collected for testing. The university has also set up a 24x7 control room, an on-campus pharmacy and a public health service centre.




To prevent further spread of the illness, authorities supplied more than 1,000 litres of purified drinking water to the hostels and advised students to drink boiled water and maintain food hygiene. A surveillance team from Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation collected water and blood samples for laboratory analysis as investigations into the cause of the outbreak continue, sources said.