FAISALABAD, July 13: A fire erupted at the Paediatrics Ward of Allied Hospital on Saturday, affecting two minors while more than 12 children were rescued.

A switchboard installed at the treatment table at the nursery of the ward caught fire accidentally. As a result a part of the ward filled with smoke that panicked the staff who rushed to rescue the child patients. The staff immediately shifted the children to other ward and called Rescue 1122.

The rescuers controlled the situation.

Two of the children were affected by smoke, however, their condition was pronounced stable.

Head of children ward, Dr Asghar Butt, was not present when the fire broke out and he reached after a considerable delay.

Sources told Dawn that the fire erupted due to negligence of the ward staff. They said Punjab Medical College Principal Dr Zahid Yaseen Hashmi had already dispatched a letter to all heads of departments asking them to check electricity wiring and other issues at their wards.

After the incident, the hospital authorities immediately changed the burnt switchboard and showed it to their bosses that fire was of minor nature. Later, all children were again shifted to the ward.

The PMC principal has constituted a three-member inquiry committee headed by Vice-Principal Dr Mohammad Ali Tirmazi. Additional Medical Superintendent Dr Khurram Altaf and Prof Sultan will be the committee members.

ILLEGAL GAS CONNECTIONS: A squad detected gas theft of millions of rupees at a hotel on Samundri Road on Saturday.

The gas theft has been unearthed after a two-day operation.

A squad led by Assistant Commissioner (City) Zaheer Anwar raided Al-Aziz hotel and detected gas theft. The hotel owner got connection through main lines for several stoves installed in four kitchens.

The hotel owner also had been using heavy generators.

The raiding team shut down the meters of the hotel but found full pressure of gas supply. After two-day digging in the adjacent streets, the pipes directly connected with the main supply line were detected.

Senior Engineer Shahid Iqbal of the SNGPL said the hotel owner had been stealing gas worth Rs3 to Rs4 million a month and involved in this illegal practice for years. He said application had been submitted with the D-Type Colony police for registration of a case.

The squad seized generators, kitch en stoves and gas sucker equipment.

BOOKED: Thekariwala police on Saturday registered a case against three people on charges of stealing equipment and goods from a woods factory on Jhang Road.

Makka Woods manager Nadeem Shahzad of Chak 67-JB said Dilawar, Qamar and Akram, residents of Chak 202-RB (Gatti), had been stealing equipment and other tools from his factory.

He said the accused had entered his factory a couple of days ago and introduced them as employees of the gas department. The accused went to the factory workshop and stole valuable equipment and other goods.

Police registered a case under sections 380 and 411 of the PPC with no arrest.