At least five people were killed and several others injured after a fire broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district in the early hours of Thursday, prompting the administration to order a probe into the incident.

The blaze erupted around 3 am at Prasad Hospital in the Brahmpura area and quickly spread through the ICU, filling the facility with dense smoke and triggering a large-scale rescue operation.

“A total of 5 deaths has been confirmed. There are several injured persons, who are undergoing treatment at various hospitals,” Muzaffarpur Municipal Commissioner Rituraj Singh said.

Earlier in the day, Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen had said three people had died in the incident. Around 13 to 15 patients were undergoing treatment in the ICU and were later shifted to other hospitals by their family members.

Sen said, "We received information about the fire early in the morning. At least three people have died in the incident."

"We are trying to reach out to the kin of the deceased and other patients. The fire has been brought under control," he said.

Prima facie, the fire appears to have been caused by a short circuit, though the exact cause will be known only after a detailed investigation, officials said.

A fire officer said, "We arrived here at around 4 am. The cause of the fire was a short circuit. The fire was not as massive, but the building was filled with smoke, which created issues for the patients. We carried out a relief and rescue operation and sent all the patients to different hospitals."

Singh said the district magistrate has constituted a five-member team to investigate the incident.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary described the incident as "extremely tragic" and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

"Instructions have been issued to immediately provide an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased. The local administration is fully alert, and adequate arrangements have been made in district hospitals for the treatment of the injured," he posted on X.

Deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said investigators were looking into the cause of the fire and that the government would take appropriate action.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin also expressed grief over the loss of lives.

“My heart is deeply grieved by the loss of lives due to the fire in a private hospital located in Muzaffarpur. I pray for peace of the departed souls and strength to their families to endure this unbearable pain. I also wish for the swift recovery of all those injured in this accident,” he wrote on X.

Former chief minister Nitish Kumar termed the incident heart-wrenching.

“The tragic loss of lives in the accident caused by a fire in a private hospital in Muzaffarpur district of the state is extremely heart-wrenching. I offer deep condolences to the bereaved families, and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said on X.

JD(U) legislature party leader Shrawon Kumar said the government would investigate the matter and take necessary action.

“Steps will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future,” he said.

The hospital management said it was cooperating with the administration and that an inquiry had been initiated into the incident.