The geology department of BN College in Patna. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, July 12: The scholars and teachers of the geology department of BN College are not only concerned about the mysteries of the earth. They are also deeply worried about the absence of power in the department for the past 10 days.

A teacher of the department said the power supply had snapped after a technical snag developed in the main supply pole because of illegal tapping of electricity.

M.N. Sinha, the head of the geology department, said: “The power is illegally withdrawn at several points from the main line, which supplies power to the department. As a result of this, power cuts were frequent earlier. Now, it has snapped completely.”

He added that the department had lodged several complaints with the college administration as well as the electricity office at Gandhi Maidan. There is, however, little relief on offer.

Manoj Kumar, an employee at the department’s laboratory, said: “We are unable to do any work, as neither the fans nor the computers work in the absence of power.”

Sinha said the department had carried out the entire admission process this year without power. At present, the geology department runs two bachelor courses in geology and geohydrology, and has around 60 students.

Sources said the building that houses the department is the oldest on the campus, and is in urgent need of renovation.

“The wiring in the department is in a terrible state. In monsoon, some of the walls are electrified. It can lead to a mishap at any time,” a teacher said.

Students stranded

The admission at the college was disrupted for hours today because of a power cut, leaving admission seekers stranded in long queues. Employees and teachers, too, struggled to complete the process.