The Central Departments of Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur have been forced to halt regular classes due to low turnout of students.

As students are unable to attend their classes due to fuel shortage caused by India’s unofficial blockade, the University College premises, that used to filled with students, wears a deserted look now. Only a few teaching staffers and the administrative officials can be seen in each department.

Administrative work in each department and the thesis work, however, are going on as usual.

University officials said they are planning for a longer winter vacation this year. “This crisis is going to have a negative effect on the academic calendar and this is going to be a great loss,” said Vice-chancellor Tirtha Raj Khaniya.

The university college area has 38 central departments and is located 10 kilometres from central Kathmandu.

The English Department, which enrols the largest number of students in the university, postponed its regular classes till November 29. “We had planned to run our classes just after Tihar but that is not going to happen any time soon,” said Amma Raj Joshi, head of the department.

As the Tihar and Chhath festivals are over and the university published schedule for the next exam starting December 20, post-graduate first year students who are originally from outside the Valley have already returned to Kathmandu. However, they are unable to make daily commutes due to the fuel crisis.

All 12 canteens on the university college premises are struggling to provide snacks to students. “We are able to offer just tea and light snacks every day. Students come for meal but we can’t offer due to the shortage of cooking gas,” said Sabin Maharjan, who runs Bhandar Khaja Ghar inside the university premises.