3 Dead, More Than 20 Rescued After Massive Fire Breaks Out at Bihar Hospital

Bihar Hospital Fire Claims 3 Lives, Over 20 Patients Rescued as Probe Begins

Just a day after a deadly fire at a hotel in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, another major blaze has triggered panic and tragedy, this time in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district. At least three people have died and more than 20 patients have been rescued after a fire broke out at a private hospital in the early hours of Thursday.

According to officials, thick smoke rapidly spread through the building after the fire erupted, creating chaos inside the hospital and forcing emergency teams to launch a large-scale evacuation operation.

Firefighters and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and worked for several hours to move patients, including those in critical condition, to safety. Several patients were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed that three deaths have been identified so far, but authorities are still verifying the condition and whereabouts of all patients who were admitted when the fire broke out.

“The ICU in-charge of the hospital is also seriously injured and has been admitted to another hospital. We are collecting complete data regarding the patients and casualties. As of now, three deaths have been confirmed,” Sen said.

Short Circuit Suspected

Preliminary findings indicate that the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault, though officials have stressed that the exact cause will be determined only after a detailed investigation.

“At first glance, it appears there may have been a short circuit involving the oxygen unit and monitoring systems. However, an investigation is underway and the exact cause will be established after proper examination,” Sen added.

Authorities said some families have approached officials claiming they have been unable to locate their relatives following the incident, prompting a verification drive to account for all patients who were present inside the hospital.

ICU Filled With Smoke

Fire Officer RN Pandey said the department received information about the blaze at around 3 a.m. By the time firefighters reached the hospital, dense smoke had engulfed the intensive care unit and other sections of the building.

“The ICU was completely filled with smoke when our teams arrived. Rescue operations had to be carried out immediately to evacuate patients trapped inside,” Pandey said.

He also claimed that many hospital staff members were not present when emergency teams reached the scene.

Nearly a dozen fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze. Rescue personnel reportedly broke open doors and windows to reach patients trapped inside smoke-filled wards and evacuate them safely.

Allegations Against Hospital Administration

The incident has also sparked allegations from relatives of patients admitted to the hospital.

One family member claimed that his father, who was undergoing treatment in the ICU, died during the fire. He further alleged that hospital authorities failed to provide clear information about patients after the incident and that several staff members left the premises as the situation worsened.

Authorities have not commented on the allegations, but officials said all aspects of the incident, including emergency preparedness and the hospital’s response, will be examined as part of the investigation.

The fire has once again raised concerns over fire safety measures at healthcare facilities, particularly in critical care units where patients are often unable to evacuate without assistance. A detailed inquiry has been ordered, and officials say action will be taken once the cause of the fire and any lapses are established.