Bhubaneswar, Aug 5: A portion of the ceiling of the maternity ward at Udala Hospital in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district reportedly collapsed on Wednesday, triggering panic among patients, attendants and hospital staff. Fortunately, a new mother and her newborn baby had a narrow escape and did not suffer any serious injuries in the incident.

According to reports, the mishap occurred when a section of the concrete ceiling suddenly broke loose and fell onto the bed where the woman was sitting with her newborn child. The debris reportedly struck the woman on her back, but both the mother and the infant escaped with minor or no injuries.

The sudden collapse created chaos inside the maternity ward, with other patients and their attendants rushing to safety. The incident has raised serious concerns over the structural condition of the hospital building and the safety of patients, particularly those admitted to critical care units.

Local residents and patient attendants alleged that the hospital infrastructure has been deteriorating for a long time and demanded immediate repairs to prevent such incidents in the future. They urged the district administration and the Health Department to conduct a comprehensive structural safety audit of the hospital, especially its older buildings.

The incident has once again highlighted the need for regular maintenance and timely renovation of government healthcare facilities across the state. Although no major tragedy occurred this time, locals warned that continued negligence could result in serious consequences in the future.

Health authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while demands for accountability and urgent repair work continue to grow.

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