Muzaffarpur: A major fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district early Thursday, triggering panic among patients, attendants and hospital staff. The incident occurred at Prasad Hospital, where emergency teams rushed to evacuate patients as thick smoke spread through the building.
According to district officials, at least five people lost their lives in the blaze, while several others were rescued and shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment. However, reports regarding the death toll varied in the initial hours, with some sources indicating that the number of fatalities could be higher. Authorities said verification of casualties was underway.
The fire reportedly started inside the ICU section of the hospital during the early morning hours. Firefighters and local residents joined rescue efforts, helping move patients to safety. Videos from the scene showed smoke billowing from the building as emergency responders worked to control the blaze.
District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed the deaths and said the administration was closely monitoring rescue and relief operations. Officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. While the exact reason has not yet been established, preliminary reports suggest an electrical fault may have triggered the incident.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about fire safety standards in hospitals, particularly in critical care units where patients are often unable to evacuate on their own during emergencies.
Authorities said a detailed inquiry would examine whether all mandatory fire safety measures were in place at the hospital. Further information regarding the victims and the extent of damage is awaited as rescue and assessment operations continue.
