Four Patients Lose Their Lives In Devastating Blaze At Private Hospital In Bihar's Muzaffarpur

Muzzafarpur:Tragedy struck Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district early Thursday morning when a catastrophic fire broke out at a multi-story private hospital, claiming the lives of four intensive care patients. The victims, who were undergoing treatment for severe respiratory illnesses, reportedly succumbed to smoke inhalation before emergency teams could navigate the heavily smoke-logged corridors.

The blaze erupted at approximately 4:15 AM, originating from an electrical junction box on the second floor near the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Eyewitnesses described a scene of absolute chaos as thick, toxic black smoke rapidly filled the wards, trapping bedridden patients and overwhelming the hospital staff. While medical personnel and local volunteers managed to evacuate more than twenty-five patients to nearby facilities, four individuals could not be rescued in time.

Initial reports from the fire department suggest a major short-circuit caused by overloaded air conditioning units as the primary trigger. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and battled the flames for over two hours to bring the situation under control. Preliminary investigations have already pointed to critical safety lapses, including blocked emergency exits and expired fire extinguishers on the premises.

In the wake of the disaster, the Bihar state government expressed deep condolences and announced an immediate ex gratia compensation of 4 lakh Indian rupees for the next of kin of each deceased victim. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a high-level, multi-departmental inquiry into the incident, demanding a comprehensive report within forty-eight hours. The district administration has vowed strict criminal action against the hospital management if found guilty of operating without a valid Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC).