Following the Hepatitis B outbreak in Modasa, the Health Department had conducted a drive and issued advisory letters to the hospitals, laboratories and dispensaries for the proper disposal of biomedical waste.

I C Patel, the Deputy Commissioner, Health and Hospital, SMC, received information about biomedical waste being stored in large quantity at a godown near the CNG gas station in Unn.

Two health officials from the Udhna zone of SMC rushed to the spot in plain clothes and kept a watch. They saw disposable needles and syringes in large numbers. They informed the police and asked Patel to rush in more staff. Around 20 officials from the Udhna zone immediately reached the spot.

They found biomedical wastes like disposable syringes, needles, plastic glucose bottles, I V fluids, and tonic bottles, at the godown. Shaikh told the officials that he was getting the scrap from rag pickers and scrap dealers.

The process of weighing the entire lot is on, but officials estimate the waste could weigh up to 100 kg.

Patel said: “The work is in progress and we will find out from where he is getting all these waste and to whom he is supplying the same. The disposable syringes and needles were not crushed, but were found in their original state. We suspect a big racket might be involved in this business and for that we have taken the help of police.”