Water damaged more answer-scripts than flames: varsity panel

Around nine per cent of the answer-scripts of the undergraduate B Sc degree course were gutted in the fire that broke out at the spot valuation centre of Osmania University here last week, the varsity said today.

A committee, probing into the fire, said a 'meagre' nine per cent of the scripts of the87,000 BSc scripts (regular and backlog) kept in the coding room were damaged and remaining scripts partially damaged, a press release from the university said.

The committee recommended holding the BSc examination in certain select subjects in the last week of June.

Further, it suggested an overhaul of the infrastructure, security and safety measures at the spot valuation centre to prevent any such accidents in future.

A fire broke out in the early hours on June 5 in a coding room and a major flare-up was averted owing to the efforts of the local staff and the firemen.

Preliminary investigation by the police and the university officials revealed that there was an accidental fire reportedly caused by an electrical short-circuit.

The committee, on closer scrutiny, inferred that the damage was caused partially because of the blaze and more owing to the water used to douse the flames.

Water soaked more answer-scripts making them illegible for valuation, the university said.

The university regretted the inconvenience caused to students and appealed to them not to believe rumours floated by vested interests.

The university reiterated that it would take all steps to ensure that students interests are protected and they are not put to any hardship while re-appearing for the exams, the press release said.

The university has a record of conducting yearly exams for over 1,000 subjects involving 16 lakh students, the release said, adding that it is also planning to switch over to online evaluation in a phased manner.