The cause behind the switchboard connected to the Uninterrupted Power Supply unit catching fire in the Cathlab department of Sassoon General Hospital on Wednesday afternoon has been narrowed down lack of maintenance leading the batteries to short. The fire gutted the switchboard and batteries of the UPS unit, and timely intervention by the fire brigade averted a major blaze. However, Sassoon Hospital administration claims there was no fire, but a mere short circuit.

“The batteries and switchboard caught fire, but it was not major. We extinguished the fire with a small extinguisher at the hospital, but it could have spread if it had not been extinguished in time,” said a fireman on condition of anonymity.