*Welfare Hostels turn crisis centres as Students suffer rat bites*

Tadepalli, April 2: YSRCP Student Wing State Working President A. Ravichandra lashed out at the state government, stating that welfare hostels are turning into crisis centres due to severe neglect, with shocking incidents of students being bitten by rats exposing the deplorable conditions. Speaking to the media at the YSRCP Central Office in Tadepalli, he said Education Minister Nara Lokesh has failed to take even minimal responsibility, and his indifference has become a curse for hostel students. He pointed out that despite the High Court pulling up the government on December 31 last year over the pathetic state of welfare hostels, no visible improvement has been made, and even after three months, the government has not clarified what corrective steps were taken, even as 45 students had already died by the time the court sought a report.

Ravichandra highlighted that the incidents in the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Hostel at Simhachalam in Visakhapatnam district are not isolated, noting that three students were bitten on March 26, two on March 27, and five more on April 1, showing repeated negligence. He stated that timely action after the first incident could have prevented recurrence. He further pointed out that in A. Konduru KGBV School in NTR district, 11 girl students were bitten by rats, calling the situation extremely alarming. He demanded that the government wake up from its deep slumber and immediately take steps to ensure the safety and welfare of hostel students across the state.