Blow up of SSH battery panel
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Head of the Department of Nephrology, Dr S K Bali, clandestinely appointed head of three-member inquiry panel to probe into the alleged sabotage in the 217 batteries blow up case at the so-called Super Specialty Hospital, (SSH) on Wednesday declined to take up the assignment.
Talking to STATE TIMES that Dr Bali expressed inability to carry out probe into the devastating fire incident being non-technical for the purpose.
“The fire took place inside the hospital, so an impartial technical team from outside the institute should be assigned the inquiry,” he is reported to have suggested to the management.
He said a major tragedy has been averted as the fire was timely controlled. Moreover, being Sunday, the area, where the batteries were kept, was almost free from movement of visitors and officials.
The other members of the committee included Executive Engineer, GMC Mechanical Division H. S Chibber and Medical Superintendent GMC Dr Rattan Paul.
Sources told STATE TIMES that constitution of the committee was an attempt to hush up the incident. This was also aimed at procuring a new UPS system for which the estimate of Rs 2 crores has been finalized.
Smelling foul play into the constitution of the panel, Dr Bali immediately replied in writing to the GMC Principal Dr Ghan Shyam that a team of technical persons be constituted to probe and report.
Meanwhile, the Engineering Wing of the hospital has estimated the loss to be around Rs 1 crore. A proposal of Rs 2 crore has been almost prepared to procure new UPS system.
“It was sheer negligence on the part of concerned engineers who knew that the batteries were outdated and could blow up any time,” said a member of GMC Medical Teachers Association.
Sources said that the funds, meant for purchase of ventilators were being diverted to buy UPS system.
Earlier, the members of the Medical Teachers Association had said that the Minister for Health and Medical Education was wasting the hospital funds for purchasing unnecessary gadgets. “Funds for the replacement of batteries were never sanctioned,” they opined.
In two panels, 115 and 102 batteries were installed in power bank which support the operation theaters and ICU in case of power failure. Both have been completely damaged in fire. And to top it all, the hospital is presently lacking the UPS power back up facility.