Indore’s Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital (MYH) faced a tragic incident on Wednesday, when a newborn girl reportedly died after being bitten by rats in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This follows the death of another infant under similar circumstances in the same ward just a day earlier.
The baby, weighing only 1.6 kilograms, had multiple birth-related complications, including an intestinal disorder, and had undergone surgery a week prior. During her stay in the NICU, rats reportedly bit two fingers on her left hand. Hospital authorities stated that the injuries were minor, but the newborn’s condition worsened due to septicemia, a severe bloodstream infection.
Dr. Jitendra Verma, Deputy Superintendent of MYH, confirmed that the infant was already critically ill due to congenital health issues. The family declined a post-mortem, and the hospital released the body according to their wishes.
Both infants were admitted to the neonatal surgery ICU, and the first baby had pre-existing complications including pneumonia. Following the incidents, the hospital suspended two nurses and removed the nursing superintendent. The private cleaning and pest control company responsible for the ward was fined ₹1 lakh and issued a warning.
Dr. Arvind Ghanghoria, Dean of the medical college overseeing MYH, acknowledged lapses in safety and hygiene protocols and stated that a high-level committee has been formed to investigate the matter. While one critically ill newborn has passed away, another child with congenital deformities remains stable.
These consecutive deaths have sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of hygiene and patient safety standards in government hospitals.
