Baripada: A portion of the ceiling collapsed in the maternity ward of Udala Hospital in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday, causing panic among patients and their attendants. Fortunately, a woman and her newborn baby escaped without serious injuries.

According to reports, the incident occurred when the woman was sitting on a hospital bed holding her newborn baby. Suddenly, a section of the ceiling fell and landed on the woman's back. Both the mother and the infant were reported to be safe.

The ceiling collapse created panic inside the ward, with other patients and their family members left frightened by the incident.

The incident has raised concerns over the infrastructure and patient safety in government-run hospitals. Questions are being raised about the maintenance of hospital buildings and the structural safety of older facilities.

Locals have also called for regular inspections and proper maintenance of government healthcare infrastructure to ensure the safety of patients and medical staff.