With swine flu tightening its grip on the city, educational institutes have started to feel the heat. Two major software companies, which were to come for recruitment at the Punjab Engineering College (PEC) University of Technology this week, have postponed their visit — the institute has been closed since November 13.

Classes at the institute were suspended for a week after a student tested positive for swine flu on November 8. So far, five PEC students, including the one confirmed case on Sunday, have tested positive for swine flu.

The visit of the companies was significant as they were to hire around 70 students.

Now, officials at the institute fear that the companies may not turn up at all and hire students from other institutes.

Prof K K Garg, training and placement officer at PEC, said the companies wouldn’t be able to visit the campus before January. “This week-long vacation will be followed by annual exams. Now the companies will be able to visit the campus only by January,” Prof Garg said. “Though we’re sure they would not miss an opportunity to hire a PEC student, but uncertainty is always there.”

Last year also many PEC students had passed out without a job, as recession was at its peak. These students will appear for interviews this year, increasing the competition for students of the current batch.

“This year, students from the last batch will also sit for interviews. With so many applicants, the pressure is already high. And it gets worse with companies postponing their visits because of swine flu,” Rajat, a student, said.

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