ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) university on Monday started registering students for hostel allotments, as it set to starts its academic activities from February 13 at various universities of the twin cities.

The deadly earthquake of October 8 rocked the AJK capital city of Muzaffarabad and both old and new campuses of the university razed to ground.

Students of physics, mathematics, geology, botany, and zoology departments have been asked to come to the camp office of the university established at NISTE for hostel allotments.

“Today we registered more than 700 students who will be subsequently placed at various locations—sixth road, committee chowk and haji camp. Girl students will be housed at haji camp for security reasons,” university spokesperson, Zafar Iqbal said.

Students were looking exuberant over the resumption of their classes, he added.

Students of chemistry, English, economics and computer sciences faculties have been asked to visit the camp office on February 7 for the hostel allotments.

And the students of university college of agriculture, Rawalakot and statistics department have been advised to see the officials concerned on February 8 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Director, students affairs, is responsible for the hostel arrangements.

Explaining the relocation of various departments of the AJK university to local universities, he said, the Arid Agriculture university has agreed to hold the classes of botany, zoology and all agriculture faculties.

On the other hand, the Behria University under an arrangement would be accommodating students of geology and computer sciences departments. The Behria University got all the necessary facilities to accommodate students of these two departments.

Similarly, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and Federal Government Post Graduate College for Boys in H-8 have jointly offered their facilities for holding classes of physics, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, English and economics departments.

The decision has been made to save the academic year of the students without any break. Though it was not an easy task, the timely help of the HEC and education ministry had made the job easier, he said.