LAHORE, May 24: Instruments and furniture were reduced to ashes when a fire broke out in the measles ward of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Friday.

More than 13 children, who were getting treatment in the ward of the Pediatric Emergency Section, were evacuated by their parents and hospital staff and shifted to other wards.

The mother of a baby alerted the doctors when she noticed smoke in a section of the ward and rushed outside along with her son, said a hospital employee. He said the dense smoke affected the health of some of the babies admitted to the ward. No injury or casualty was reported.

Rescue 1122 spokesman said the fire erupted due to a short circuit in the air-conditioner installed at the ward. It later spread to a cupboard and other furniture.

The fire-fighting squad of the Rescue 1122 controlled the blaze after half an hour. Ganga Ram Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Fazalur Rehman blamed frequent loadshedding for the short circuit which led to the fire incident.

He told newsmen that the fire was controlled before the arrival of the Rescue 1122 fire-fighters.

He said some small instruments and furniture were gutted, but no major loss was reported in the incident.