With more cases of swine flu being reported from Aligarh Muslim University in the last 24 hours, the varsity authorities today suspended all classes till February 25.

The decision was taken today as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread of this disease at an emergency meeting of top university officials presided over by the Acting Vice-Chancellor Brig S Ahmad Ali.

However, university offices will continue to function.

On February 13, Rushda Pervez, an undergraduate student at the AMU Women's College, died of swine flu on her way to New Delhi for treatment.

Rushda, along with more than 187 girls had last fortnight gone on a tour to South India. On her way back, she developed symptoms of swine flu.

At least seven other girls, who were on the tour, reported similar symptoms and were admitted to the isolation ward at the University Health Service.

Rushda is the third patient in Aligarh to have died due to swine flu during the past ten days. Two other patients who died belonged to the old city.

As per a notification issued by the AMU authorities, "All seminars, workshops, meetings and conferences scheduled to be held in the university for the next ten days have also been postponed till further orders."



The notification further states that the crucial annual meeting of the university court scheduled for February 21, which was being held to elect the university's new chancellor and pro-chancellor, has also been postponed.

The advisory issued by the AMU health authorities has asked people to strongly avoid visiting all crowded places, including cinema halls, till the situation improves.