Hyderabad: Fear and safety concerns have come to the fore at the Government Junior College, Bazarghat, Nampally, after a portion of the ceiling in the first floor corridor collapsed on Sunday, forcing authorities to send back students.
Built in 1969, the college building has long been facing severe water seepage issues during the monsoon season. Continuous water leakage from the ceiling has caused cracks in the walls, exposed iron beams, and peeling plaster. The damp walls have also become a breeding ground for algae and other vegetation.
This newspaper, on August 11, in a special report, ‘Crumbling Bazarghat govt college sparks safety risk’, had highlighted the plight of the students caused by continuous leakages and the building’s weak structural condition.
Given its deteriorating state, engineers from the Telangana Education Welfare and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TGEWIDC) who inspected the building declared it a dilapidated structure in November 2024. Yet, classes are still being held on the premises, raising serious safety concerns among students and staff.
A first-year student said the situation has gone from bad to worse, with rainwater flooding the floors. “We are afraid of attending classes,” he said.
Another student mentioned that his parents were worried about his safety and had advised him to shift to another institution, as the present building was unsafe for academics.
The college offers both vocational and regular intermediate courses, with around 1,200 students enrolled. The regular courses are housed in the building that has more severe structural issues.
A junior lecturer shared that the ceiling collapse had been waiting to happen. “We are shocked because the portion that fell was considered safe, while there are many other weak spots,” the lecturer said, adding that the reinforced rods were bent and the entire building was damp with rainwater.
Another lecturer stated that the ceiling had collapsed six times in the past four months since he joined the college. “Luckily, it didn’t happen when students were in classrooms. It is getting increasingly difficult for us to teach in this crumbling structure,” he said.
With no staircase access to the terrace, there is no way to drain water from the rooftop, a college official explained. Following recommendations from TGEWIDC, the Intermediate Education Department prepared a plan to construct a new building at an estimated cost of `15 crore. However, the proposal is still pending with the finance department.
After the incident, college officials were asked to shift classes to another facility. Two options were identified — one at Sultan Bazaar, where space is available in a newly-constructed building, and another at the Telangana Minority Residential School within the Bazarghat Junior College premises.
“The college premises have a newly constructed minority welfare institution. The intermediate education department has requested the government to provide some space in the new building to run classes temporarily until a new structure is built for the college,” official sources said.
