4 patients killed, several injured after fire at hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur

4 people were killed after a fire broke out at a hospital in the wee hours of Thursday in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, said officials. 

At least 4 people have been killed and seveal others were injured after a fire broke out at a hospital in the wee hours of Thursday at Prasad Hospital, one of North Bihar's prominent private healthcare facilities, located under the jurisdiction of the Brahampura police station area in Muzaffarpur, officials said on Thursday. 

The blaze reportedly started around 3 am and spread to various sections of the hospital.

The incident happened just a day after a fatal hotel fire in Delhi's Malviya Nagar, that claimed 21 lives, including foreign nationals.

Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed the deaths and said that seveatl patients are in critical condition. He also informed that crtically injured patients have been shifted to other hospitals for treatment as authorities continue to monitor the situation.

While many patients and their relatives managed to escape the building amid challenging conditions, the situation was especially critical in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where several patients were reportedly trapped as dense smoke and flames engulfed the area.

According to hospital authorities, the fire is believed to have started in the ICU due to a suspected short circuit. The blaze quickly escalated, with smoke spreading rapidly across the ward. After receiving information about the incident from local residents, multiple fire tenders were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters carried out a large-scale rescue and firefighting operation, eventually bringing the blaze under control after several hours.

Alongside firefighting operations, rescue efforts were carried out on a war footing. Ambulances were deployed continuously to evacuate patients and shift them to safer medical facilities. Several patients were referred to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment. 

Witnesses described scenes of chaos, fear, and desperation as distressed family members searched for their loved ones.

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Fire Department official Ram Niwas Pandey said authorities were still assessing the full extent of the incident. He stated, "As of now, the deaths of two individuals have been confirmed; however, it is difficult to ascertain the exact death toll at this moment. Several patients may have lost their lives due to smoke inhalation and asphyxiation within the ICU caused by the fire. We are striving to gather all relevant details as quickly as possible."

Meanwhile, the hospital management assured full cooperation with the administration and confirmed that an internal inquiry has also been initiated. The incident has left Muzaffarpur in mourning, with local residents raising concerns about the fire safety measures in private hospitals.

The district administration has ordered a detailed probe into the incident. Fire Department officials indicated that the lack of adequate fire safety systems in the ICU may have helped the blaze spread quickly. However, the exact cause of the fire has not yet been officially established.

Relatives of several patients have alleged that timely safety measures were not implemented by the hospital management, leading to a significant loss of life and property. Administrative officials and police personnel are currently engaged in examining all aspects of the incident, while fire department teams continue debris-clearing operations and search efforts.

With inputs from IANS...