On thursday, The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur declared that its campus will remain closed till May 23. All offices and departments will also remain shut till the same date. This is due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the institute.
All the activities and functioning at the institute premises will remain suspended and only essential will be allowed across the campus. Rest of the important work must be done through online mode.
The registrar of institute, Mr. Tamal Nath said that the staff is allowed to work from home to ensure less transmission of viral infection and safety of every stakeholder. Online classes are already being conducted by teachers for students to cover the loss of educational hours while campus is closed.
Although the workers engaged in essential services are allowed to function but they have to follow all safety protocols. It is also requested to the students and research scholars who are still staying in the hostels that they should return to their native places as the institute has very limited availability of isolation and treatment facility.
The shops in the campus selling essential commodities will be allowed to open but but for a fixed period of time. The movement of workers delivering essential items like milk, ration and othet food items will also be restricted within specific time slots in morning and evening.
Mr. Tamal Nath on the current situations said that whatever happens accross the state and the country creates impact on the institute as well. However the IIT-Kharagpur has adopted every possible step and is trying to keep situations under control.