The students of IIT Madras, who have been placed under quarantine in their hostel rooms have written to the authorities, complaining that the amount of food served to them is insufficient. After more than 180 (183 at last count) students tested positive for COVID, the institute had gone under a lockdown and its messes and cafeterias were closed. The students were served packed meals inside their hostel rooms.

Understandably, there are complaints, though it is a tough situation for the institute, "The rice is always uncooked and of poor quality. The number of chapatis is insufficient. There are hardly any vegetables in the gravy. We cannot survive just on grains for so many days," reads an email by a research scholar. A few students who have responded to her email thread agrees with this. "The administration hasn't responded to our emails yet. They can easily increase the quantity of food," she says.

"Our meal includes two spoons of gravy which scarcely contains grains, three chapatis that would hardly suffice even for a child and a bowl of rice. While such a challenging time should have prompted you to provide nutrition-rich meals in sufficient quantities, we are rather left to famish with meager servings," reads another email. The students have also shared photographs of the meals that are being served to them.

The number of COVID-positive students in the institute crossed the 180-mark on Tuesday, while more students are awaiting their test results. At the same time, reports suggest that the students of Anna University are also being tested for COVID. Both institutes are located three kilometres apart.

We have written to IITM seeking their comment on this issue. This copy will be updated once they respond.