Panic prevailed in the Rajasthan University as the double-storedouble-storey science-block building housing the departments of Chemistry and Mathematics collapsed in the early hours on Thursday.
The major part of the Science block's left wing that was completely razed included instrument-rooms and a seminar hall while the top floor housed the computer laboratory of the Mathematics department. Besides, valuable records of the researchers were lost as the costly instruments for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), that gives formula of a compound and Mass Spectrometer that assesses molecular weight of a substance were completely destroyed.
Police and fire fighters rushed to the spot for rescue operation.
Luckily, no human casualty was reported as the incident happened around 8.30 am, two hours before the classes begin in the university, said a spokesperson of the university.
Several students alleged that the poor conditions of the building including number of cracks were brought to the notice of the authorities but none bothered to act.
Significantly, the portion that gave way was constructed in 1990s as an extension of the old main building built in 1950s when the main campus came into being.
Sources pointed out that when the construction for the left wing of the building was proposed the then head of the chemistry department had advised against the site where it stands as the underground sewer pipe line was passing through it. It was pointed out that it could endanger the building, but the university engineering wing decided to go ahead with construction.
A three-member inquiry committee headed by a retired chief engineer of the PWD was set up to go into the reasons for the incident, said the university PRO Bhupendra Singh.
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