India, Nov. 9 -- Last month, Gajanan Jamge, a 21-year-old nursing student, died after he contracted malaria at his college hostel. Two other nursing students were also hospitalised for malaria. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) estimates that during the monsoon months, more than 150 medical students across the state, including 40-0dd from Mumbai alone, fell sick with malaria, dengue and typhoid. Around 25 doctors at JJ Hospital were admitted to the very hospital where they worked.

Although a major clean-up was undertaken on the campus of the government-run Grant Medical College (GMC) and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals after Jamge's death, the situation points to challenging living conditions and poor hygiene in the hostel...