LUCKNOW, March 11 -- Hostels at city universities have already begun planning for alternatives in case they run out of LPG cylinders, as a panic-like situation prevails in the city. Various hostels of Lucknow University cater to 2,500 students every day. Prof Anoop Kumar Singh, chief provost said that the authorities have directed the contractor overseeing the messes to ensure proper arrangements and have enough LPG cylinders from wherever possible. "We have also asked the contractor to arrange for wood, coal and cow dung cakes which can be utilised in bhattis (furnaces) already existing in various messes of the old campus. We have asked them to arrange for a chulha (stove) for the new campus, if the requirement arises," said Singh. Prof Narendra Kumar, dean, students' welfare, Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, said that the mess at the university runs in the form of a co-operative. "The university administration has no role in the functioning of the hostel mess but the contractor has told students to be prepared for the worst. Appropriate measures are being taken so that no crisis situation arises for the students," said Kumar. Authorities at Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, when contacted, refused to comment on preparedness on the campus. HTC...