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At least five people were killed and several others injured after a fire broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district early on Thursday, prompting a probe into the incident and renewed concerns over hospital fire safety.

The blaze erupted around 3 am at Prasad Hospital in the Brahmpura area and rapidly engulfed the ICU, filling the ward with dense smoke and triggering panic among patients and attendants.

“A total of five deaths have been confirmed. Several injured persons are undergoing treatment at different hospitals,” Muzaffarpur Municipal Commissioner Rituraj Singh said.

Earlier, district magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen had confirmed three deaths, but the toll later rose to five as authorities completed rescue and identification efforts.

According to officials, around 13 to 15 patients were admitted to the ICU when the fire broke out. Family members and emergency responders rushed to evacuate patients, many of whom were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

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“We are trying to reach out to the kin of the deceased and other patients. The fire has been brought under control,” Sen said.

Preliminary findings suggest the blaze may have been caused by a short circuit, though officials stressed that the exact cause would be established only after a detailed investigation.

To ascertain the circumstances leading to the tragedy, the district administration has constituted a five-member inquiry committee.

Reacting to the incident, Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary described the deaths as “extremely tragic” and announced financial assistance for the victims' families.

“Instructions have been issued to immediately provide an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased. The local administration is fully alert, and adequate arrangements have been made for the treatment of the injured,” he said.

Deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the government was examining the cause of the fire and would take appropriate action based on the findings.

Condolences also poured in from political leaders across party lines. BJP national president Nitin Nabin said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

Former chief minister Nitish Kumar termed the incident “heart-wrenching” and expressed sympathy for the bereaved families.

JD(U) legislature party leader Shrawon Kumar said the government would investigate the matter thoroughly and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The tragedy has once again spotlighted fire safety standards in healthcare facilities, particularly in critical care units where patients are often unable to evacuate on their own during emergencies.

With PTI inputs

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