A devastating fire erupted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Prasad Hospital in Muzaffarpur, resulting in the tragic deaths of three individuals. The incident led to a swift evacuation of over 20 patients from the smoke-filled facility, with several injured individuals receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as flames and dense smoke quickly overwhelmed the ICU ward, prompting urgent calls for help throughout the hospital. Hospital staff, assisted by local residents, acted promptly to rescue trapped patients by breaking windows, averting a potentially larger disaster.
Upon notification of the blaze, eight fire tenders rushed to the scene and commenced firefighting efforts. After hours of intense work, firefighters successfully brought the fire under control. Fire Officer R.N. Pandey reported that the department was alerted about the fire around 3:00 a.m., with more than 20 patients rescued and three confirmed fatalities, pending further verification.
Authorities, including senior officials from the district administration, police, and health department, coordinated rescue and relief operations on-site. District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed the three verified deaths and the transfer of several patients to alternative medical facilities for ongoing care.
Preliminary investigations suggest an electrical short circuit as the probable cause of the fire, pending a detailed technical assessment for confirmation. In response to the severity of the incident, a high-level inquiry committee has been established by the district administration to probe the circumstances surrounding the fire and assess safety protocol compliance.
