Around 1,500 students of BIT-Sindri and their parents have raised concern over their safety amid rising Covid-19 cases in the country, as the institute has started to gear up for the shifting of the pupils.

Seventh semester students, who are scheduled to shift to their hostels between April 3 to 5, are required to furnish their own Covid-negative reports as well as those of their parents, for the offline examinations set to begin on April 8.

Several students, who got recruited during the campus drive, are also worried as their employers have asked them to shift to their workplaces and have to come back to the institute to sit for the examinations.

“We had to book expensive air tickets to go to the college since trains were not available. We are not even sure if we have to return in case new guidelines are issued,” a parent of a Madhya Pradesh-based told The Telegraph Online.

He said that the examinations could have been easily conducted online, much like the classes, to avoid unnecessary health risks.

A third year student of the M.Tech department agreed and said, “At a time when institutes like IIT-ISM have not launched offline classes, this decision of holding examinations is incomprehensible.”

A teacher told The Telegraph Online that despite understanding the situation, nothing much can be done as the examinations are conducted by the Vinoba Bhave University.

“Who will take responsibility if a Covid outbreak takes place in the college? The university should consider conducting online examinations,” the teacher added.

Contacted, Dean (Student Welfare) of BIT Sindri, Pankaj Rai said the authorities will act accordingly if fresh guidelines are issued by the Centre.