India, June 4 -- A major fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district early Thursday, claiming the lives of at least four patients and triggering a large-scale rescue operation.

The incident occurred at Prasad Hospital in the Brahampura area, where several patients were undergoing treatment. Firefighters and emergency teams rushed to the scene and safely evacuated multiple patients from the smoke-filled building before shifting them to nearby hospitals.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the blaze may have been caused by a short circuit, although authorities have launched a detailed probe to ascertain the exact cause. Officials said the condition of some rescued patients rem...