Three Patients Die in Major Fire at Bihar Hospital; 20+ Rescued

3 Dead, Several Critical After Massive Fire Breaks Out at Muzaffarpur Hospital

A major fire at a hospital in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district claimed at least three lives and left several patients in critical condition after thick smoke engulfed parts of the facility in the early hours of Thursday.

The blaze triggered panic among patients and their families as emergency teams rushed to evacuate those trapped inside the building. More than 20 patients were rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals as firefighters battled the flames and smoke for several hours.

Officials said the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, although preliminary findings suggest it may have originated from a short circuit involving medical equipment and the oxygen supply system.

District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed that three deaths have been identified so far, while authorities continue to verify details of all patients who were admitted at the time of the incident.

“We have confirmed three deaths at present. The ICU in-charge is also seriously injured and is undergoing treatment at another hospital. We are collecting complete information regarding all patients who were admitted when the fire broke out,” Sen said.

The district administration has launched an investigation into the incident.

Smoke-Filled ICU Triggered Emergency Rescue

According to Fire Officer RN Pandey, the fire department received an alert at around 3 am. When firefighters arrived at the hospital, dense smoke had already spread across the intensive care unit and adjoining sections of the building.

Rescue teams immediately began evacuating patients, many of whom were unable to move on their own. Firefighters reportedly broke open doors and windows to access smoke-filled wards and carry patients to safety.

Nearly a dozen fire tenders were deployed to the scene to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.

“The ICU was completely filled with smoke when we arrived. Our priority was to rescue patients trapped inside and shift them to safer locations,” Pandey said.

He also claimed that several hospital employees were not present when emergency responders reached the hospital.

Families Search for Missing Relatives

The incident has left several families anxiously searching for information about their loved ones.

Officials said some relatives have approached the administration claiming they have been unable to locate family members who were admitted to the hospital before the fire broke out.

One man alleged that his father, who was undergoing treatment in the ICU, died during the incident. He further accused the hospital administration of failing to provide timely information and claimed some staff members left the premises after the fire erupted.

Authorities have not yet responded to the allegations, but officials said all claims will be examined as part of the ongoing inquiry.

Probe Into Cause of Fire Underway

While investigators are yet to reach a final conclusion, officials suspect an electrical fault may have sparked the blaze. “At first glance, it appears there may have been a short circuit in the oxygen unit or monitoring system. However, the exact cause can only be established after a thorough investigation,” Sen said.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over fire safety standards in healthcare facilities, particularly in critical care units where patients are often dependent on life-support equipment and require assistance during emergencies.

A detailed investigation has been ordered, and authorities say accountability will be fixed if any lapses in safety measures are found.