Fire Breaks Out in Osmania University, Destroys Answer Sheets

According to the police, the fire seems to have been triggered by a short-circuit inside a hall.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

A fire broke out in the degree spot valuation centre of the Osmania University in Hyderabad early on Tuesday, 5 June. According to the police, the incident seems to have been triggered by a short-circuit inside the hall.

Staff and some locals who rushed to the spot upon seeing the fire immediately alerted the local fire station and the police. The Tarnaka fire department arrived at the university with a fire engine and is reported to have doused the fire quickly, averting a disaster.

Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Ramachandram visited the spot along with police officials and took stock of the situation.

The degree spot valuation centre on campus is currently running the instant valuation of the recently held degree supplementary examinations.

Speaking to The News Minute, police inspector G Jagan said:

The incident happened early in the morning. A short-circuit seems to have led to the fire breaking out.

Police inspector G Jagan

The fire department officials also said that the reason for the fire was a short-circuit inside the degree spot valuation centre building.

According to some local media sources, several answer sheets pertaining to as many as two subjects were destroyed in the fire.

The fire broke out early in the morning, between 5 and 6 am. The fire personnel reached there and acted quickly, so the damage was minimised. We assume that perhaps 20 sets of answer sheets have been partially damaged and we are trying our best to recover them.

Vice Chancellor Ramachandram to The News Minute

The university has constituted a committee to conduct a probe into the mishap. The committee, which will submit a report in two days, will also assess the extent of damage due to the fire.

The police said OU officials have also lodged a formal complaint regarding the incident and the case is under investigation.

University Library Set to be Renamed After BR Ambedkar

Meanwhile, the Osmania University main library is set to renamed Dr BR Ambedkar Library, reported The Times of India. The matter of changing the name was placed before the Executive Council recently in the wake of requests from different student bodies and the OU SC/ST Teachers’ Association.

The university administration has asked the government to issue norms and policies that need to adopted for the renaming of the library.

The Osmania University library is one of the best libraries in the country, housing over 6 lakh books and journals and a collection of rare manuscripts.

(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)