Muzaffarpur hospital fire: 3 dead, 20+ rescued from Prasad Hospital ICU
Synopsis
A pre-dawn fire tore through the ICU of Muzaffarpur's Prasad Hospital, killing three and forcing the rescue of more than 20 patients — many pulled out through broken windows. A suspected short circuit is again at the centre of an Indian hospital tragedy, with an inquiry now ordered into safety lapses at the private facility.
Key Takeaways
A major fire broke out in the ICU of Prasad Hospital , Brahmpura, Muzaffarpur , around 3 am on 5 June 2025 .
Three patients died and more than 20 were rescued, according to officials.
Between 13 and 15 patients were admitted to the ICU at the time of the blaze.
Eight fire tenders battled the flames for hours before bringing them under control.
An electrical short circuit is suspected; a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted.
Three patients died and more than 20 others were rescued after a major fire engulfed the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Prasad Hospital in the Brahmpura area of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, during the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday. The blaze, which broke out around 3 am on 5 June 2025, triggered a large-scale rescue operation and panic across the hospital premises.
How the fire unfolded
Flames and thick smoke rapidly engulfed the ICU ward, with eyewitnesses recalling cries for help echoing through the building. Hospital staff, joined by local residents, reportedly broke windows to pull trapped patients out — a swift response that officials say averted a much larger tragedy.
Rescue and firefighting operation
Eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot and, after several hours of effort, brought the blaze under control. Fire Officer R.N. Pandey said the department was alerted around 3 am. ‘Our team reached the hospital immediately after receiving the alert. The ICU was filled with dense smoke. More than 20 patients have been rescued safely. So far, we have received information about three deaths, and the matter is being verified,' he said.
What officials confirmed
District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed three fatalities had been officially verified. According to the administration, between 13 and 15 patients were admitted in the ICU at the time of the fire. Several have since been shifted to nearby medical facilities for continued treatment. Senior officials from the district administration, police, and health department reached the hospital to supervise relief work.
Probable cause and inquiry
Preliminary reports indicate that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit, though authorities have clarified that the exact cause will be established only after a detailed technical investigation. Given the seriousness of the incident, the district administration has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to examine the circumstances and determine whether there were any lapses in fire safety norms.
A recurring pattern in Indian hospitals
This is the latest in a string of fire incidents at Indian hospitals where ICUs — densely packed with oxygen lines, ventilators, and electrical equipment — have proved especially vulnerable. Officials are now working to identify the deceased and assess the damage to the hospital's ICU infrastructure, even as questions mount over fire-safety compliance at private healthcare facilities in Bihar.
Point of View
Another short circuit, another inquiry committee — the script is grimly familiar. India has seen repeated hospital fires from Bhandara to Rajkot to Ahmedabad, almost always traced to electrical faults in oxygen-dense wards, and almost always followed by reports that gather dust. The real question is not what caused this fire, but why private hospital fire-safety audits in Bihar remain so opaque. Until compliance is enforced ward-by-ward, ICUs will keep being the most dangerous room in the building.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Prasad Hospital in Muzaffarpur?
A major fire broke out in the ICU of Prasad Hospital in the Brahmpura area of Muzaffarpur during the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday, killing three patients and prompting the rescue of more than 20 others. The blaze was reported around 3 am and brought under control after several hours.
What caused the Muzaffarpur hospital fire?
Preliminary reports suggest an electrical short circuit may have triggered the fire, but authorities have said the exact cause will be confirmed only after a detailed technical investigation. A high-level inquiry committee has been set up by the district administration.
How many patients were in the ICU when the fire broke out?
According to the district administration, between 13 and 15 patients were admitted to the ICU at the time of the fire. More than 20 patients in total were rescued from the smoke-filled building, with several shifted to other hospitals.
Who is investigating the Prasad Hospital fire?
The district administration, led by District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen, has constituted a high-level inquiry committee. The panel will examine the circumstances of the fire and assess whether there were any lapses in fire-safety measures at the hospital.
How was the fire brought under control?
Eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot after the alert at around 3 am. Firefighters, aided by hospital staff and local residents who broke windows to evacuate trapped patients, managed to douse the blaze after several hours of effort.
