After an inferno broke out at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, claiming the lives of six persons on Thursday, the registration of the facility has been cancelled, officials reported on Saturday. The action came days after the Prasad Hospital’s ICU suffered a catastrophic fire breakout, filling the ward with thick smoke and leaving critically ill patients trapped. Officials said all six people died due to asphyxiation rather than burn injuries.
A picture from the scene after the fire breakout
Registration suspended over alleged negligence of safety protocols
Mauzaffarpur District Public Relations Officer (PRO) Pramod Kumar on Saturday said the Civil Surgeon had cancelled the hospital’s registration immediately. Officials aware of the development said the decision was taken after preliminary findings pointed to a breach of safety protocols and potential lapses on the part of the hospital management.
Meanwhile, the hospital administration has also been instructed to submit a detailed explanation along with relevant documents and evidence within seven days.
Smoke-filled ICU proved fatal
The incident transpired on Thursday when a suspected short circuit triggered a fire at the hospital’s ICU. The smoke resulting from the blaze rapidly engulfed the ICU, resulting in life-threatening conditions for patients admitted there.
The hospital after the inferno ravaged the ICU
Notably, five patients died on the day of the incident itself, while the sixth victim, who had been rescued from the unit and had been admitted elsewhere for treatment, succumbed to complications on Friday.
In the aftermath of the incident, Director General (Fire) Shobha Ahotkar said that the victims died due to suffocation caused by smoke inhalation and that no burn injuries had been detected on the bodies. The incident also sparked an outrage, with allegations of hospital staff abandoning the premises following the fire breakout surfacing, leaving vulnerable patients in the lurch.
Three hospital staffers arrested
As the probe picked pace, police laid hands on three staff members of the hospital administration in connection with the incident. Muzaffarpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohibullah Ansari said that the ones who were arrested include Pankaj, the doctor in charge of the ICU, Ram Kumar, the administrative manager and Ajit kumar, the maintenance manager.
Representative image
However, the investigating police personnel have indicated that additional arrests may follow as the probe advances.
5-member committee constituted
The district administration has formed a five-member committee to probe the circumstances leading to the devastating fire. Simultaneously, Tirhut Division Commissioner Girivar Dayal Singh has directed the authorities to register an FIR and identify the people responsible for any lapses.
Officials have warned that if violations are established, further legal action could be taken against the owners and management of the hospital.