#JUSTIN: Three Dead After Fire Breaks Out In Muzaffarpur Hospital ICU
Deadly ICU blaze sparks rescue operation in Muzaffarpur.
At least three patients lost their lives after a massive fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district during the early hours of Thursday. The incident occurred on the fifth floor of Prasad Hospital, triggering panic among patients, attendants, and hospital staff. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as several patients were rescued in critical condition and shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
According to fire department officials, an emergency call was received at approximately 3:55 a.m., following which multiple firefighting teams were dispatched to the hospital. Rescue personnel immediately launched evacuation operations and managed to bring around 15 to 20 patients out of the smoke-filled ICU. Two patients were reported dead at the scene, while others were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care. Officials said the condition of several rescued patients remains unknown.
District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed that three deaths had been recorded so far. He stated that around 13 patients were admitted to the ICU at the time of the incident, while additional patients were receiving treatment in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU). Authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the fire and assured that appropriate action will be taken once the inquiry is completed. Preliminary findings suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze.
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Firefighters worked for several hours to bring the situation under control and prevent the flames from spreading to other sections of the hospital. The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety standards in healthcare facilities, particularly in high-risk areas such as ICUs where critically ill patients often rely on life-support equipment and cannot evacuate independently during emergencies.
The tragedy comes just a day after another deadly fire claimed 21 lives at a hotel in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar area. In that incident, dozens of guests were trapped after flames engulfed the building, exposing serious safety lapses. The back-to-back disasters have intensified calls for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations in hospitals, hotels, and other public buildings across the country.
As rescue and assessment operations continue in Muzaffarpur, authorities are focusing on identifying the exact cause of the fire and evaluating whether safety protocols were adequately followed. Families of the victims and patients remain anxious as officials monitor the condition of those injured. The incident has highlighted the urgent need for regular safety audits and emergency preparedness measures in medical institutions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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