At least five patients lost their lives and several others sustained injuries after a fire erupted in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district during the early hours of Thursday. The blaze began around 4 a.m. on the fifth floor of Prasad Hospital, where the ICU is situated, quickly filling the area with thick smoke. At the time of the incident, 27 critically ill patients were admitted to the ICU.
Evacuation and Casualties
Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Sen confirmed that five patients died, while the remaining patients were evacuated and transferred to other medical facilities. Three of the survivors were referred to Patna for advanced treatment. Sen added that a team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) sealed the fifth floor, which houses both the ICU and the Critical Care Unit (CCU), as part of the ongoing investigation.
Government Response
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed his condolences and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each deceased patient. He stated, "The loss of lives in a fire at a private hospital in Muzaffarpur is extremely tragic... The local administration is fully alert, and appropriate arrangements have been made at the district hospitals for the treatment of the injured." Officials identified the deceased as four men and one woman. The oldest victim was 76-year-old Krishnandan Prasad Singh, while the youngest was 30-year-old Shashank Kumar.
Possible Cause
Preliminary findings suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the fire. Reports indicate that the short circuit might have occurred in one of the ICU machines, followed by a blast in an air-conditioning unit. However, officials have not confirmed the exact sequence of events or the precise cause of the blaze. A committee has been formed to investigate the incident and determine responsibility, including whether safety protocols were followed and whether the hospital had adequate fire prevention and emergency response measures in place.
Eyewitness Account
Radha Devi, a patient in her 90s who was admitted to the ICU, described a frantic escape. She told reporters that she removed her oxygen support herself and rushed out after noticing the fire. Attendants of other patients alleged negligence by hospital staff, claiming no staff members were present when the incident occurred. Officials said statements from patients, attendants, and hospital personnel will be recorded as part of the inquiry.
