Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 2: Medicines worth several lakhs were destroyed in fire, which broke out during the intervening night of August 1 and 2 at Drug Store of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Jammu.
According to the reports, a mysterious fire broke out at around 1.30 am and as soon as the security personnel of the GMC&H detected the smoke and flames coming from drug store, they informed the officials of the GMC&H administration and Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
After getting information, about four fire tenders reached the spot and started the operation to control the fire. After two hours of hectic efforts, the fire was brought under control at around 3.30 am but till then 4-5 racks full of medicines including disposable syringes and some electrical gadgets like computers and fridge worth lakhs were gutted in the fire but no injury or casualty were reported in the incident.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, also visited spot in the morning and took stock of the damages caused by the fire. He directed the GMC administration to constitute a committee to assess actual loss in the fire.
When contacted, Principal, GMC&H Jammu, Dr Zahid Geelani, said that the exact reason of the fire could not be ascertained yet but it appears that it probably broke out due to short circuit. He said that they have submitted a complaint in this connection in police post, GMC&H Jammu, who are investigating the matter.
When asked about the actual loss in the fire, he said as of now it will be difficult to say how much loss has occurred in the fire but due to timely detection of fire they managed to save medicines worth crores. “However, on the directions of the Minister, we have constituted a six-member committee which will assess the actual loss in the fire”, he added.
He informed that the six-member committee comprised of Ashok Singh (XEn Mechanical), Anil Basotra (XEn Civil), Surekha Gupta (Accounts Officer), Sushil Kumar Gupta (Assistant Director, Planning), Dr Rakesh Behl (PSM Department) and Dr Bela Mahajan (HoD Microbiology).
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