Several woman patients had a harrowing ordeal today when smoke filled the maternity ward of a civil hospital here following a short circuit, leading to panic.
Around two dozen post-delivery and cesarean patients were admitted there, a hospital official said, adding there was no major injury in the incident.
The power of the hospital building remained off for five hours.
State Health Minister Anil Vij reached the hospital and ordered an inquiry into the incident
Nurse Vanita, who was on duty, said that she was making arrangements for a cesarean operation when dark smoke started filling the labour room on the first floor.
"The women thought a major fire had engulfed the place and they started rushing outside," she said, adding that a few of the patients had given birth just two to three hours back.
Two of the women, who had undergone cesarean a day back, fell in the corridor, eyewitnesses said.
Later, the entire ward was vacated and the patients were shifted.
It was suspected that a short circuit in the main power junction of the hospital building resulted in the cables catching fire.
Vij, who represents the Ambala Cantt assembly segment, reached the civil hospital and enquired about the incident
He directed the Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department to conduct a probe.
