Muzaffarpur, Bihar – A devastating fire ripped through Prasad Hospital in Muzazaffarpur in the early hours of Wednesday, claiming the lives of at least three people and leaving more than 20 others injured. Among the gravely wounded is the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in-charge, who has been admitted to a nearby facility.
The blaze, which reportedly originated on the fifth floor in the ICU, quickly filled large sections of the building with thick, toxic smoke, triggering panic and chaos as emergency teams struggled to evacuate patients. Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit at the oxygen unit and monitor system as the potential cause, though authorities state the exact reason is yet to be officially confirmed.
Allegations of Staff Abandonment
District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed the fatalities and stated that efforts are ongoing to account for all patients admitted at the time of the incident. However, the aftermath has been marred by serious allegations from distraught family members who claim hospital staff abandoned their posts as the fire spread.
"The ICU in-charge of the hospital is also gravely injured. He is also admitted to a nearby hospital. We have to confirm the proper data about how many lives are lost. Currently, we have identified three as dead," Sen told reporters, adding, "At first look, it seems like a short circuit at the oxygen unit and the monitor system. An investigation is underway. We will carry out the necessary procedure to find out the real reason for the fire breakout."
Fire Officer RN Pandey corroborated some of these concerns, stating that the fire control room received the alarm around 3 AM. By the time firefighters arrived, the ICU was fully engulfed in smoke, and most hospital employees were conspicuously absent from the scene. One family member recounted the tragic loss of his father in the fire, alleging that hospital authorities failed to hand over the body and that several staff members had disappeared.
Ongoing Investigation and Relief Efforts
Critically ill patients affected by the fire have been transferred to other hospitals in the vicinity. The Civil Surgeon has reached Prasad Hospital to oversee relief operations and coordinate medical assistance for those impacted. Authorities have launched a full investigation to ascertain the precise cause of the fire and address the grave allegations regarding staff conduct during the emergency.