Rat Infestation Plagues Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus
Pune, 10th February 2025: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) is grappling with a severe rat infestation, sparking fear and concern among students, professors, and staff. The problem is particularly acute in the library, laboratories, and hostels, where significant damage to students’ belongings has been reported.
Two students from Hostel No. 6 have exhibited symptoms of rabies, highlighting the seriousness of the issue. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has accused the hostel administration of negligence, stating that complaints about the rat problem were lodged three months ago, yet no action was taken.
Students from the Hindi and Economics departments have been attempting to meet with hostel authorities for the past three months to discuss the issue, but their concerns have reportedly been ignored. In one alarming incident, a student was bitten by rats four times on the leg, resulting in a two-day hospitalization and symptoms of rabies.
Students claim that food items, clothes, and books have been damaged by the rodents. The ABVP is demanding immediate action, including relocating affected students to new rooms, implementing pest control measures across all hostels, and improving overall cleanliness. The student organization has threatened to launch intense protests if their demands are not met.
