Following the cremation of Government College for Women (GCW), Gandhi Nagar student Anjali Chowdhury, grief across the city has turned into outrage, with mounting demands for an independent probe into the lapses that allegedly cost the young student her life during an official college excursion.
The 12-member inquiry committee constituted by the college Principal has itself come under a cloud, with students, parents and faculty questioning whether an internal panel can fairly examine a tragedy in which the institution’s own functioning is under scrutiny.
Voices are now growing for a time-bound investigation by the district administration with participation from the Higher Education and Transport Departments to determine how a bus with an alleged safety defect was cleared to carry students.
Anjali reportedly fell from a moving bus near Jakhani after a window suddenly opened during the journey, triggering widespread anger over what many describe as a shocking failure of basic safety measures during an official college trip and the credibility of fitness certificates issued by the transport department.
Her family has called the death a preventable tragedy, insisting accountability cannot end with condolences. “Every person responsible for student safety must be identified, whether it is the transport contractor or the staff accompanying the students,” a family member said.
The incident has also revived serious questions over the continued engagement of the same transport agency for decades despite repeated tendering. Critics allege the contractor’s prolonged association with the college administration points to a deeper pattern of unchecked influence and weak oversight.
A senior faculty member, speaking anonymously, said, “The fitness of the vehicle is under question, and an internal inquiry cannot inspire confidence when the same vendor has remained linked with the institution for years. If negligence is established, the contractor must be blacklisted and the staff deputed for student safety must also face action.”
The Higher Education Department must also enquire as to how a same vendor repeatedly managed to qualified for decades of tendering process, added the faculty member
Expressing concern over the tragedy, a retired college Principal, referring to a viral social media video showing teachers from a prominent Jammu city college dancing exuberantly during a student picnic at Patnitop, said, “Excursion duty demands constant vigilance. Student tours cannot be reduced to social outings for teachers at the cost of students safety.”
Students said the death of a young girl, who was the sole support for her ailing parents, has exposed dangerous gaps in safety protocols meant to protect students during official travel. Those responsible must be held accountable, emphatically demanded college students.
Confirming the constitution of inquiry committee, Dr. Kulvinder Kour, Principal GCW Gandhi Nagar told JK Global News that incident has left everyone shaken and college’s effort was to ascertain the circumstances that led to the loss of a precious life.
Yet for many, the larger question remains whether the system will acknowledge its failures before another tragedy occurs.