At least three people were killed after a massive fire broke out in the ICU of a private hospital in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district early Thursday, officials said.
The blaze erupted at Prasad Hospital in the Brahmpura area and spread rapidly through the intensive care unit, engulfing it in dense smoke and complicating evacuation efforts.
Muzaffarpur DM said, "We received information about the fire early in the morning. At least three people have died in the incident." He informed that around 13-15 patients were being treated in the ICU, who have now been shifted to other hospitals by their family members.
"We are trying to reach out to the kin of the deceased and other patients. The fire has been brought under control, and necessary legal action is being undertaken," he added.
Hospital authorities suspect the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit in the ICU. Rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident, officials said.
The hospital management said it was cooperating with the administration and that an inquiry had been initiated into the incident.
Officials added that the death toll could rise as details about several patients were still being verified.
(With inputs from PTI)
