ROURKELA: About 350 students of western Odisha districts, currently taking BEd examination at Kurukshetra in Haryana, are stuck after the Kurukshetra University (KU) deferred the test on Friday till further orders amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan.
With no clarity on next examination dates, the students are in a dilemma whether to stay put or return. Kurukshetra is located barely 50 km from Ambala cantonment.
The second year students of BEd are mostly from Rourkela and other parts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Samblapur, Boudh, Sonepur districts. They had left for Kurukshetra on May 1 with return journey reservations of May 13 and 14.
Sources said the students appeared for two papers on May 5 and 7, while the test for the third paper on Friday was postponed. There is no clarity about the final paper scheduled for May 12.
Anna Sebati Kujur, a student from Rajgangpur in Sundargarh, said uncertainty over the examination rescheduling prevails but getting train reservation on another date is a huge concern. The Jammu Tawi Express is the only direct train from Kurukshetra to Sambalpur via Rourkela and Jharsuguda and it is running overcrowded at present.
Most students want rescheduling of the two remaining papers on April 12 which, at present, appears to be the most feasible option and have been sending requests to the university authorities.
Anna said she and other students remain apprehensive of sudden escalation of the conflicts and are praying for safety.
Another student, Bishal Patel of Jharsuguda said there is no problem with their stay as of now. He said they periodically hear war sirens and announcements which make them apprehensive away from home.
Rourkela-based facilitator of KU Soubhagya Naik said separate teams have been keeping watch on the needs and safety of students and coordinating with the university authorities. About 60 first year students from Rourkela and nearby areas left for Kurukshetra on Thursday and Friday while others were advised to cancel their journey for the examination scheduled from May 13 to 27.
The BEd students, many accompanied by family members from Odisha, are staying at Jaat Dharamshala, Punjab Dharamshala, Agarwal Dharamshala, Brahmin Dharamshala, Vishwakarma Dharamshala, Rod Dharamshala, Renuka Sadan Dharamashala, Krishna Dham Dharamshala. Others are staying as paying guests in Kurukshetra.
Neither KU vice-chancellor Prof Som Nath nor registrar Dr Virender Pal responded to email queries for comment.
Sundargarh district emergency officer (DEO) Ashwini Panda said the administration is trying to stay in touch with the students and in the event of any exigency, the Resident Commissioner would be alerted for help.