B.Sc 5th sem student of Karimganj College tests corona +ve amid ongoing offline exam

April 19: Indeed the footsteps of the highly contagious coronavirus among the college students of Barak Valley has become a major cause of concern. After a BA 3rd semester female student of NC Paul Memorial College tested positive on Monday, news reports came in about a B.Sc 5th semester student of Karimganj College also being detected COVID-19 positive during the day. He was detected positive in Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at Karimganj Civil Hospital, Silchar on 19 April.

Though the TDC (CBCS) Odd Semester Examination has already started, yet his papers will commence from 22 April. He is supposed to appear in 4 pass papers (Botany, Zoology and Ecology). However, as he was detected Covid-19 positive on 19 April, she would have to undergo strict isolation for 17 days. The doctors of Karimgannj Civil Hospital advised the student to undergo “strict home isolation for 17 days.” That means, he would not be able to come out of isolation till atleast 6 May. As such, it would not be possible on his part to appear for the ongoing offline TDC exam. The student was immensely upset. On one hand, he was suffering from pain due to Covid symptoms and on the other, he was totally depressed for not being able to sit for the examination.

The Covid-19 positive student said, “I do not know what will happen to my career. I am now in 5th semester. Had there been the system of online mode of examination, then I could have somehow sat for the exam from my  home inspite of physical weakness.”

However, with each passing day, the number of Covid cases are increasing and this has been a real cause of concern for both the teachers and the students. Concerned citizens have expressed the view that the college Principals and the University authorities must intervene immediately and devise ways and means to take the remaining exams in blended mode. It needs mention here that an Assistant Officer-in-charge (AOC) of the Exam section of Cachar College, tested COVID-19 positive in the midst of ongoing TDC (CBCS) Odd Semester Examination. Following which, another 1st semester student of GC also tested positive on 18 April.