Service records gutted in fire at BMO office in Bandipora, employees anxious

Bandipora, 27 Nov: Scores of health department employees working in Bandipora medical block in north Kashmir have been left high and dry after their service records were gutted in the fire that broke out in the office of Block Medical Officer Bandipora two days ago.

Officials working in the medical block told Greater Kashmir that at least sixty service books, including pay accounts rolls of the employees have been destroyed in the fire that gutted the old district hospital building, presently housing the BMO Bandipora’s office.

   

Dozens of the affected employees on Saturday assembled outside the gutted office block premises anxious about the damaged records and the impact on their service records.

The employees said that all the records of the Bandipora block employees remained at the office and they would also draw salaries from there.

They urged the concerned authorities to look into the matter to redress their grievances.

Block medical Officer Bandipora, Dr Masarat Iqbal Wani said that though the exact figures were being ascertained, around sixty service books of paramedical staff could have been damaged in the fire.

Iqbal said that of the four buildings of the old hospital complex, one building that housed the BMO office and had the official records in it was damaged in the fire.

The other records related to NHM and COVID, he said are “hundred per cent safe”.
The BMO said the fire spreading rapidly was assumed due to gas cylinders in the office building and the fire could have been initiated due to short-circuit as electric lines laid low outside the office building.

Meanwhile, Deputy Comissioner Bandipora, Owais Ahmad has constituted an enquiry committee to ascertain the cause of the fire.

The committee consists of Additional District Development Commissioner Bandipora, Executive Engineer, KPDCL division Bandipora, Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services division Bandipora and Tehsildar Bandipora.

It has been asked to conduct a thorough enquiry and submit its finding, including the inventory of official records damaged, to DC Bandipora within two weeks.

Block Medical Officer Bandipora has been asked to extend full cooperation to the enquiry committee.

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