A short circuit triggered panic among patients and medical staff at the civil hospital in Sector 6 on Tuesday evening. The fire broke out around 5.30 pm in the delivery room complex on the first floor of D-block.
Hospital sources said the blaze was sparked by an electric heater left running for a prolonged period in a doctor’s room within the complex.
Approximately 30 women were inside the labor room complex at the time. As a precautionary measure, staff swiftly evacuated the patients to a safe zone. Kuldeep Bohat, the hospital’s fire safety officer, confirmed that the fire was minor and was brought under control by the internal emergency team within minutes.
While the flames were quickly extinguished, thick smoke took considerable time to clear from the enclosed wing. Normal operations resumed once the smoke dissipated and the area was declared safe. Hospital authorities are now reviewing safety protocols regarding the use of electrical appliances in sensitive medical zones to prevent a recurrence.