Invaluable research lost in devastating fire in National Research Centre for Orchids in Darjeeling

On Tuesday at around 8.20 a.m., Centre in-charge Manoj Adhikari noticed sparks and smoke emanating from the electricity meter box

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 2, 2024 : In a devastating fire on Tuesday, the Darjeeling centre of the National Research Centre for Orchids was razed to the ground, resulting in loss of property and important research work of the institution.

On Tuesday at around 8.20 a.m., Centre in-charge Manoj Adhikari noticed sparks and smoke emanating from the electricity meter box.

"I saw smoke coming from the back of the meter box. On closer inspection I noticed sparks flying. I immediately warned the other staff and used the fire extinguisher to douse the flame which however got bigger. I then contacted the fire station, police department, electricity board and the local civic body and informed them about the fire," he said. Two fire tenders were pressed into service to control the fire which had spread across the top floor of the two storied structure. "The fire tenders arrived but ran out of water. We had to arrange for water from a nearby source. This delayed the effort and the whole of the top floor was ravaged by the massive fire," said Adhikari. The ground floor however was not fully damaged in the fire.

The Centre in-charge said the fire had destroyed important documents and work besides the scientific instruments. "We could not salvage anything from the top floor. We had important research work papers, lab plants and other assets. Till we assess the situation in detail, we cannot estimate the loss. We have informed our directors who will arrive on Wednesday," said Adhikari.

Pakyong in Sikkim is the headquarters of the Darjeeling centre of NRCO where the directors are based. The Darjeeling center of the NRCO under the Indian Council for Agricultural Research was established in 1997. The institute is well known for its tissue culture laboratory and protected cultivation of orchids and conservation of germplasm. It had over 160 species of orchids including several endangered one.