Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal on Saturday approved inclusion of the Centralised Ambulance Trauma Services (CATS), which provides a free ambulance service in the city, as "essential" for a period of six months to stop its staff from going on strike, an official said.

CATS workers went on a strike on Friday that brought halt to 200 of 260 life-saving ambulance services, creating a tough time for patients in the city. "Employees on strike damaged the government property (ambulances) and also threatened other willing staff to perform duties," Delhi's Additional Secretary, Health and Welfare, Sachin Shindesaid in a statement.

He said that the government reviewed the situation arising out of the strike by contractual employees of the outsourced agency and recommended it be declared essential. "To restore services for general public, the Lt Governor granted approval to include ambulance service as essential under Haryana Essential Service Maintenance Act (HESMA - which is also applicable to Delhi)," he said, adding the notification was issued on Saturday.