Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday directed the education department to institute a high-level inquiry committee to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of the seven Assam Engineering College (AEC) students in a road mishap here on Monday.

The principal of the AEC and the superintendent of the hostel to which the ill-fated students belonged “would be asked to go on leave” till the enquiry is completed and the report gets examined by the government.

Sarma also directed the education department to constitute another committee to “strengthen” rules and regulations in hostels of educational institutions to prevent the occurrence of any incident which is potentially life-threatening, an official statement said.

“The committee will also look into strict enforcement of the in and out time of hostels, complete prohibition of alcohol in hostel campuses and hostels and prohibition of an extended stay of ex-borders of hostels. The committee will also recommend ways for the promotion of healthy community life within hostels,” the statement said.

According to the police, 10 third-year students had left the college in a car early morning and the vehicle hit a road divider before colliding with a pick-up van in the Jalukbari area of the city leading to the casualties. Three more students and three occupants of the vehicle were injured in the mishap.

Sarma has also asked the state education department to constitute a committee to look into the present system of election in colleges and universities and the need for reviewing the system in the wake of frequent clashes during the pre and post-election period among the student community.