Efforts are afoot to ramp up security at the Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital (JMCH) in the wake of the rape and murder of a junior doctor at a state government-run healthcare facility in Calcutta on August 9.

The Jalpaiguri medical college operates out of two campuses — the super-specialty hospital near Mashkalaibari in the town and the Jalpaiguri district hospital, which is in another location.

“We are installing panic buttons in both locations. The buttons will be in the offices of ward masters and at some other spots. The buttons will be linked to the local (Kotwali) police station. If they are pressed, the law enforcers will immediately learn about the location and can take necessary steps,” said Kalyan Khan, the superintendent of the medical college.

The panic buttons will also be installed in the emergency wing, the labour emergency wing and medicine, paediatric, ENT and orthopaedic wards.

The authorities also decided to install more CCTV cameras to ensure that the maximum possible area is under digital surveillance. As of now, there are 115 cameras altogether at both the locations.

“We will install CCTV cameras in some blind spots which have been identified. The estimate is that 216 more cameras are needed. We have ordered 32 CCTV cameras, keeping in mind the funds available,” Khan said.

Besides, the medical college authorities sought the state government’s approval to deploy 120 more male and female security guards on the campuses.

The authorities, sources said, requested the women doctors, nurses, and other female employees to remain under CCTV surveillance, especially during evening and night hours. The police will regularly monitor CCTV footage.