Health minister warns of action, seeks report from admin

Patna: State health minister Nishant Kumar on Thursday said strict action would be taken against those found responsible for the fire at a private hospital in Muzaffarpur that claimed five lives.In a statement issued to reporters, Nishant said he had sought a report from the district administration and asked officials to submit details of the incident. He said a probe committee had been constituted and further action would be taken after its findings are submitted.A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident. It comprises the Muzaffarpur sub-divisional magistrate (East), sub-divisional police officer (East), additional collector (disaster), civil surgeon and district fire officer. The panel will examine the circumstances leading to the blaze, compliance with safety norms and any lapses on the part of the hospital management.Nishant announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those who died in the fire. He said the health department and district administration had been instructed to ensure proper treatment for the injured and take all necessary steps for their care. Arrangements for treatment have been made at hospitals, including facilities in Patna, he said.After returning from Delhi, Nishant visited patients injured in the fire who are undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Patna and enquired about their condition. He also reviewed the treatment being provided to them.The minister said negligence by hospital management would not be tolerated and fire safety audits of hospitals across the state would be conducted in the wake of the incident. He added the govt would act on the committee’s report and initiate punitive measures against those found culpable.Former CM Nitish Kumar, the minister’s father, also expressed condolences. In a post on X, Nitish described the loss of lives in the fire as “extremely heartbreaking”, offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.