The sight of college students studying with their helmets on is nothing unusual at the state-run Adivasi Hostels in Ranchi.

When ceilings are leaking and large chunks of concrete are falling off the roof, this is perhaps the best way out to protect oneself.

Yes, the 400-plus tribal youths residing in the cluster of three hostels spread across five acres near Karamtoli Chowk spend most of their time collecting dripping water from the ceiling in buckets or worrying when the plaster from the roof will fall off and hit one of them than concentrating on studies.

The accommodations for adivasis boys - Swarnarekha Postgraduation Hostel, Yaduvansh Adivasi College Hostel and Kartik Oraon Adivasi College Hostel - are anything but fit to live in with leaking roofs, crumbling ceilings and peeling plasters.

The boarders and also the authorities (read the state welfare department that owns the premises) are lucky that no major mishap has taken place.

Students admitted that they are living in perpetual fear of getting injured.

"Last night (Monday), a huge chunk of concrete caved in from the dining hall's ceiling. Around 25 students eating at the hall at that moment had a miraculous escape. A week ago, around 20 students sitting in the common room had a similar escape. Not only the dining hall and the common room, the condition of rooms, bathrooms and toilets is equally worse," Mahendra Oroan, a tribal student from Chanho pursing his postgraduation in Kurukh , one of the regional and tribal languages, <>at Ranchi University, told The Telegraph on Tuesday.

Another boarder Ranjan Oraon, a tribal student from Gumla, agreed, saying that the rainy season was worse as roofs started leaking.

"We have to use buckets to collect water leaking from the roof. Let alone the rooms, even the well from where we draw water to bathe is not safe. It can collapse any day, causing a major accident. We are afraid of taking bath there," he said.

Several said that dripping water from the ceiling ruined their books while some claimed that they wore helmets as "shield" while studying in the room.

District welfare officer N.N. Verma admitting to the rundown condition of the hostel, adding that an estimate for repairing and maintaining the building had been sent to the welfare department 20 days ago.

"But we are yet to receive any response," he said.

Welfare secretary Vandana Dadel, asked whether they had received the estimate from the district welfare department, promised renovation soon.

"Not only Ranchi, the condition of tribal hostels across the state is abysmal and thus, the estimate for repair and maintenance work was collected. I hope the work will start within seven days," she said. Students staying at the three hostels not only attend regular classes in colleges, but also prepare for various competitive examinations.

Every year, around 50 boarders clear various state and national-level competitive examinations while staying and studying at the hostels.