Timely action averted a major fire that broke out from an air-conditioner in the children’s ward (paediatrics) of Tata Main Hospital on Monday morning.

Though no one was injured in the fire, which was controlled swiftly, parents had to scramble with around 100 ill children to a safer alternative found by the hospital management.

The fire was noticed at the paediatric ward’s 10A section at 9.30am, leading the hospital’s essential services, including security and administrative personnel, and Tata Steel’s fire brigade to rush to the spot.

The hospital management had by the time started shifting children and their guardians, mostly mothers, to another patient-care area to allow the firemen to do their job.

The fire was extinguished in 15 minutes flat.

Tata Steel said the fire at the children’s ward on Monday morning was brought under control immediately.

“Prima facie, it seems the fire originated from the air-conditioning system fitted in the ward. An investigation is on to ascertain the cause of the fire,” the steel major’s corporate communications stated.

According to the release, all precautionary and preventive measures had been taken and the facility was functioning as per protocol to ensure delivery of optimum services and care to the patients.

Assistant sub-inspector Ajit Kumar Singh said soon after the fire was reported, the hospital management had called in the company’s fire brigade, which acted fast.

“There was no report of any injury in the fire,” the ASI told The Telegraph.