4 patients dead in Muzaffarpur hospital fire; short circuit suspected

A devastating fire erupted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Prasad Hospital in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, on the early morning of Thursday, June 4, 2026, tragically claiming the lives of at least four patients. The blaze, which is believed to have started on the fifth floor of the hospital building, rapidly spread through the ICU, filling the area with thick smoke and causing significant panic among patients, their attendants, and the hospital staff. According to reports, the fire broke out around 3:55 a.m., prompting an immediate emergency response. Firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene and worked diligently to control the inferno. Multiple fire tenders were deployed, and rescue operations were initiated to evacuate those trapped inside. Ram Niwas Pandey, an official from the Muzaffarpur fire department, stated that approximately 15 to 20 patients were rescued from the ICU. Many of these rescued patients, along with others from the affected wards, were subsequently shifted to nearby hospitals for continued treatment and medical assessment. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, but preliminary findings and hospital authorities suggest that a short circuit in the ICU, possibly related to the monitoring and oxygen supply systems, may have been the cause. District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed that at least four deaths had occurred, and the Bihar government announced an ex gratia payment of ₹4 lakh for the families of each victim. An official investigation has been ordered to ascertain the precise cause of the fire and to determine if there were any lapses in fire safety measures at the hospital. Eyewitness accounts and reports from officials highlighted the challenges faced during the rescue operations due to the dense smoke and the location of the ICU on the fifth floor. Firefighters reportedly had to break open doors and windows to reach trapped patients. The incident occurred just a day after a major fire in a hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar claimed 21 lives, raising concerns about fire safety standards in various institutions across the country. Prasad Hospital is described as one of the prominent private healthcare facilities in North Bihar, serving a large number of patients from the region. The tragedy has sparked renewed debate and scrutiny regarding fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness in private medical establishments. The district administration is reportedly in the process of contacting the families of the deceased and other affected patients to provide assistance and gather further information. The investigation aims to uncover the root cause of the fire and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The extent of the damage to the hospital's infrastructure is also being assessed. The death toll was initially reported differently by various sources, with some reporting three deaths and others four. However, multiple credible sources and official statements confirm four deaths. The deceased patients have been identified as Krishnandann Prasad Singh (76), Geeta Devi (63), Uday Kumar (57), and Sashank (30).. The ICU in-charge of the hospital was also reported to be gravely injured.

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