PhD scholar electrocuted on Panjab University campus, students protest

A Panjab University PhD scholar died after allegedly being electrocuted on a waterlogged campus road in Chandigarh. The incident triggered student protests, with demonstrators accusing the administration of negligence and demanding accountability.Jyoti, a resident of Haryana, was pursuing her PhD at the university. (Photo: ITG)A 26-year-old PhD scholar died after allegedly being electrocuted while walking through a waterlogged stretch of Panjab University's South Campus in Chandigarh on Tuesday morning, triggering protests by students who accused the university administration of negligence.The deceased, identified as Jyoti, was reportedly walking through a rainwater-filled road when she allegedly came into contact with a live electric current. According to preliminary information, she was found lying near an electric pole on the roadside. Videos of the incident were reportedly recorded by people present at the spot.Jyoti, a resident of Haryana, was pursuing her PhD at the university. The exact circumstances leading to her death are yet to be ascertained.The incident sparked outrage among students, with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staging a protest outside the office of the university's Executive Engineer (XEN). Protesters alleged that the university had failed to address safety concerns despite similar incidents on the campus in the past. Videos from the campus showed agitating students raising slogans, breaking a campus gate and confronting university authorities, while a heavy police force was deployed to maintain law and order.ABVP state head Pratham Singla alleged that Jyoti was electrocuted after coming into contact with a live electric current while walking through the waterlogged road. He demanded strict action against those responsible and sought accountability from the university administration. As the protest intensified, agitating students also gheraoed the Vice-Chancellor's office and raised slogans against the university authorities. According to reports, the VC office was locked from the inside during the protest.The university administration has not yet issued a detailed statement on the incident. Further investigation is underway.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Jul 28, 2026 16:35 IST