After 4-month hiatus, IIT-H to open from Monday

HYDERABAD: After a break of almost four months, the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) is all set to hold its doors open for students in a phased manner from August 10.
As per the senate decision, PhD research scholars and students pursuing masters of technology (MTech) and masters of design (MDes) will be allowed into the campus in batches of 70.
There are close to 1,500 PhD and masters students enrolled with the IIT-H and the institute has chalked out a detailed plan on reopening of the institution.

To begin with, the institute has already identified PhD scholars, who need to come to the campus for their experimental research. The research scholars identified by the faculty have been asked their choice and only those who choose to come to campus are being allowed to return.“To enable PhD students to carry out their experimental research amid this pandemic situation, we have decided to invite our PhD students, particularly those in their final year, to the campus. All precautionary measures have been put in place and will be followed to ensure the safety of our students,” said Prof BS Murthy, director, IIT-H.
After the PhD students, who need experimental facilities for their thesis, MTech/MDes students, whose thesis depends on experimental work, will be the next batch to be allowed in the campus. “The first batch is expected to arrive on August 10, 2020. Each batch of students will be self-quarantined for 14 days in one of the hostels before they are allowed to occupy their regular hostel rooms,” reads a statement issued by IIT-H to TOI.
After self-quarantine, students will be allowed to have their meal in the mess by maintaining social distance. After the first batch of students complete their self-quarantine and move to their regular rooms, they will be under observation for a week or two before the next batch of students are allowed into the campus. This process will be continued until the need for social distancing is lifted by the government. “Initial batches of students will be from Telangana and the neighbouring states. Once the national transportation services are improved, PhD students from other states will be invited to return,” reads the statement.