7 Assam Engg students die in fatal car crash: Who is to blame?

7 priceless lives lost, but who is to be blamed for the tragedy? This seems to be the most pertinent question after 7 students of the prestigious Assam Engineering College (AEC) in Guwahati met with a fatal car crash leaving them dead at the spot late last night.

Parents as well as kin of the victim have raised questions on the role of the AEC authorities as to how the students were allowed to leave the hostel and the AEC campus late night. However, AEC authorities have categorically maintained that the students had left the hostel dodging the security as well as the existing hostel rules in effect.

Kin of Niyor Deka (deceased) who are shattered at the loss questioned,”We want the answer. Are there no wardens?

An emotional family member of Upanshu Sharma (deceased) said, “Authorities will be in a better position to tell as to how they were allowed to leave the hostel. We don’t know, we are finished. There must be some slackness in the security in the campus. If they had gone out at 2 AM, than how that could happen? This is a big question. If they (authorities) came to know than why they (students) were not stopped.”

An incosolable family member of Rajkiran Bhuyan (deceased) said,”We are very hurt. There are Hostel superintendent, warden, guidelines in hostel. If the boys were missing than they should have found as to why the boarders were missing. Such an incident might have taken place due to lack of responsibility of the Warden or if the Superintendent does not take any action.”

Kin of Kaushik Mohan (deceased) have also flayed the role of the AEC authorities and said,”Are there no authorities there? How can hostel boarders go out after midnight? So does authorities don’t have any responsibility?”

Responding to these questions, AEC prinicipal Dr Atul Bora condoled the demise of the students and termed it as unfortunate.

When asked as to how the students managed to go out of the hostel beyond the prescribed time, the AEC principal said,”Wardens are there. It is important that we create some system so that such things do not happen. We have already fixed rules that do not allow them (hostel boarders) to go out. But if they go out without informing anyone in all practicality than it is very unfortunate.”

However, the AEC principal admitted that there are few shortcoming in the security aspect. Bora said,”As a whole we have a slight problem if we speak about the security scenario. For that lots of manpower is required apart from electronic surveillance. But whatever is available with us now and is utilized to the core than these things are unavoidable.

Security is there but if somebody gets away quitely than it is a bit difficult.

Warden came to know to only after the accident happened.

We have been pressing for revival of the hostel culture.”