Patna: In Patna, the safety of students living in hostels has become a serious concern after a young NEET student died in a girls’ hostel in Chitragupta Nagar. This tragic incident has forced the police and district administration to take strict action. They have started checking girls’ hostels, lodges, and dormitories across the city. Now, registration of all hostels and colleges has been made compulsory. The women’s police team, known as the Abhaya Brigade, is visiting hostels in different police station areas to check whether basic safety rules are being followed.
However, officials admit that less than half of the hostels in Patna are officially registered. There is no clear data about how many hostels actually meet safety standards. Hostel owners say they were never given a proper system or website to submit their details earlier. Many hostels have been running for years without any inspection. According to hostel operators and service agencies, there are more than 8,000 private hostels in Patna. Around 4,000 of them are linked to large coaching institutes that prepare students for competitive exams.
Records from the Municipal Corporation show that only 3,035 private hostels are registered and pay property tax. The Bankipur zone has the highest number, with 1,959 hostels, as it is close to Patna University, coaching centres, and major markets. The Patliputra zone has 743 hostels, while Kankarbagh has 172, NCC zone 149, and Azimabad only 12. These figures clearly show that a large number of hostels are still outside the legal system and not being monitored.
The administration has now issued a Standard Operating Procedure to improve safety in girls’ hostels. Every hostel must have a female warden on duty at all times. CCTV cameras are compulsory at the main gate, corridors, dining area, and hostel premises, and recordings must be kept for at least 30 days. All staff members, including guards, cooks, and cleaners, must undergo police verification. Men are not allowed inside the room areas of girls’ hostels. Regular inspections will be carried out by the local police station, women’s help desk, and Abhaya Brigade.
Posters with emergency numbers such as the local police station, Abhaya Brigade, and Dial 112 must be displayed inside hostels. Each room must have strong doors and proper locks. In case of any student falling ill, parents and the local police must be informed immediately. While these rules are a step in the right direction, students and parents say that real safety will only come when these rules are strictly followed, not just written on paper.
