Two newborns were reportedly bitten by rats at Maharaja Yashwantrao (MYH) Government Hospital in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, within the past 48 hours, sparking outrage after videos of the incident went viral on social media.
According to PTI, the shocking incident took place in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of one of the state’s largest government hospitals.
Hospital director Dr. Ashok Yadav confirmed the cases, saying:
“Within 48 hours, a rat bit the finger of one infant in the NICU, while another baby suffered bites on the head and shoulder.”
He added that both infants had been born with congenital conditions. One of them had been found abandoned in Khargone district before being transferred to MYH for treatment. Following the incident, a special committee has been formed to investigate.
To prevent further occurrences, hospital authorities have ordered round-the-clock monitoring and installed wire mesh on windows. Staff have also been instructed to stop outside food from being brought into the ward, as leftover food is believed to have attracted the rodents.
The incident triggered political uproar after Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh, Umang Singhar, shared a video showing a rat inside the NICU. He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of negligence, describing the situation as “mass murder.”
“Government, please have mercy on these babies! Look at the state of MY Hospital in Indore—rats are biting babies in the NICU, and the BJP government has failed to conduct pest control for the last five years! Hospitals should save lives, not become death traps,” he said in a post on X.
State Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla also demanded a thorough investigation.
“The case of two babies bitten by rats is not just administrative negligence, but a tragedy that challenges the values of humanity. It has created fear among parents. If the government cannot ensure the safety of infants in hospitals, how can people trust it to protect public safety?” he said.
