Heavy rain, strong winds damage Bharathiar University MBA block; panel formed to assess old buildings

COIMBATORE: Bharathiar University has constituted a building committee to assess the condition of its ageing structures after heavy rain and strong winds caused damage to the MBA department building on the campus, registrar R Rajavel said on Saturday.

Coimbatore city and its suburbs were battered by heavy rain on Friday. Three large trees were uprooted on the campus. One of these trees fell on the MBA block, severely damaging the roof and ceiling.

After the ceiling gave way, rainwater entered rooms in the MBA building where answer sheets were stored. Rajavel said the extent of the damage would be assessed in detail by Sunday. University authorities began clearing the debris and removing the fallen trees with the help of cranes.

He said a building committee had been formed to inspect old university structures and prepare an estimate for repair and restoration work. The panel comprises four syndicate members, a university engineer and another university representative.

Rajavel said several buildings on the campus, including the main building, staff quarters and hostels, are more than 45 years old and require a thorough structural review. He added that the two-month academic break would help the university carry out repair work without disrupting regular activities.

The registrar said a separate tree survey committee was constituted this week to identify ageing and vulnerable trees on the campus and recommend whether any of them should be pruned or removed to prevent similar incidents in future.

University officials are expected to submit preliminary assessments on both building safety and tree conditions in the coming days.