AIIMS-Patna students observed a hunger strike on Sunday as part of their protest against delay in constructing hospital blocks and recruiting faculty members.

Nearly 450 students have been on the warpath since Tuesday against deficient infrastructure and manpower at the institution. On Saturday, they staged a street play to voice their concerns.

Sunday's hunger strike is the students' tip of the hat, an acknowledgement, to Gandhi Jayanti and Mahatma Gandhi's stress on non-violence.

"We have neither hampered functioning of the outpatient department services nor have we blocked roads to press for our demands," said one of the protesting students on condition of anonymity as the medicos want to be collectively identified. "We have been protesting peacefully, we are just boycotting our classes, which in no way, harms others. The students unanimously decided to observe a hunger strike on Sunday."

The Twitter handle of AIIMS-Patna students (AiimsP_Protest) was also flooded with messages dedicated to the Mahatma. Few tweets posted on the handle read: "#RememberingMahatma - Protesting, the Ahimsa-wadi way! Nukkad Natak & Hunger Strike #AIIMSP4Change #GandhiJayanti #MahatmaGandhi", "#nukkad-natak - protesting, Gandhigiri style #AIIMSP4Change #AajNahiToKabhiNahi #IndiaOnActivMode #MahatmaGandhi #GandhiJayanti".

But amid this continuing protest, there is some ray of hope. The students said they were communicated over phone about assurance from Jagdish Prasad, director-general of health services at the ministry of health and family welfare, to talk to the students about their issues on October 6.

"We had a telephonic conversation with Union health secretary C.K. Mishra who said Jagdish Prasad will be sent as his representative to our campus," said another student.

"Later Prasad also spoke to us. We have been told an official letter about the visit will be issued on Monday. Even though Prasad is coming to our campus, we would like to put forth our views before Union health minister J.P. Nadda."

Sources said even if the ministry officials visit the campus, resolving the issues will not be an easy task. Among the various issues raised by the students is lack of clinical teaching space and manpower. If the construction firm speeds up work or the ministry initiates the process to recruit faculty members, it is still expected to take no less than six months.

"One of our demands is starting the blood bank at the hospital," said a student.