Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Nov 8: Assistant Development Commissioner (ADC) has ordered an inquiry after medicines from hospital supply reportedly meant for COVID patients were found abandoned at several places along Neeru river here.
Residents living along Neeru river and devotees raised an alarm when they noticed hundreds of died fish floating in the river near Gupt Ganga temple, Parnala and Atal-Garh areas.
Residents and environmentalists consider Neeru River as the life-line of Additional District Bhaderwah because potable water is tapped from the said river beside dozens of famous trout fish farms have been established along it and hundreds of fishermen are totally dependent on the river.
“When we tried to locate the reason, we found hundreds of strips of medicines of hospital supply at several places in the water. We apprehend that these medicines have caused the damage as most of the medicines are antibiotics, painkillers and steroids”, said Neeraj Singh Manhas of Atalgarh.
“The medicines include Hydroxy Chloroquine, Azithromycin, Betamethazone, Calpol besides Zinc tablets and majority of these medicines expiry is 2022. This clearly indicates that the medicines were meant for COVID patients and have been dumped in water for unknown reasons”, Manhas added.
Demanding stern action against the culprits, locals said that the responsibility should be immediately fixed and those who have committed the crime should be put behind the bars.
Two trout fish farms including a trout hatchery at Gatha and Bheja village have been established on the banks of Neeru by Fisheries Department beside more than a dozen trout fish farms of famous rainbow trout give employment to dozens of unemployed youth of the area.
Workers of trout fish farms have alleged that mortality rate has suddenly increased after the medicines in large quantity were thrown in the river.
“Since past one week, we have been collecting and removing the medicines from our pond every day, but despite all our efforts dozens of fish have died in last couple of days and hospital authorities are responsible for this”, said Barkat Ali of Bagwan trout fish farm Atalgarh.
However, BMO Bhaderwah, Dr Hamid Zargar maintained that hospital authorities are not responsible for this as the medicines were meant for COVID positive patients and were given to the staff to deliver to the patients at their door steps.
“This is very unfortunate incident and we are trying to trace the batch number of the medicines recovered from river and we will also initiate a departmental inquiry tomorrow”, said Dr Hamid Zargar.
When contacted ADC Bhaderwah Rakesh Kumar told EXCELSIOR, “I have constituted a fact finding team headed by me and those found guilty will be dealt with iron hands as according to preliminary inquiry hospital authorities have maintained that even the expired medicines are not thrown anywhere and properly disposed every month in presence of senior officers”.
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