Baby Girl Dies, Boy Hurt After Rat Attack in NICU
A tragic case has come to light at Indore’s MY Hospital NICU, where two newborns were reportedly bitten by rats on consecutive days. Sadly, one of the babies, a low-birth-weight girl from Khargone district, died during treatment on Tuesday.
Baby’s Critical Condition Before Death
Doctors confirmed that the infant girl, weighing only 1.2 kg, was already in a very fragile state. She suffered from severe anaemia, lung complications, and multiple congenital anomalies. She was on ventilator support from the time of admission.
According to Dr. Arvind Ghanghoria, Dean of MGM Medical College, the cause of death was septicemia (a serious bloodstream infection), not the rat bite itself, as the wound was tiny. The baby, estimated to be between 5 and 7 days old, had reportedly been abandoned by her parents at the hospital.
Second Infant Stable After Surgery
The other newborn, a baby boy from Dewas district, was also bitten but has since undergone surgery. He remains on ventilator support and is said to be stable.
Hospital Staff Face Disciplinary Action
The incident has raised serious concerns about hygiene and safety inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of MY Hospital. Dr. Ghanghoria revealed that rats had been spotted in the ICU for the past 4–5 days, but the information was not reported promptly.
As a result:
- Two nursing officers, Akansha Benjamin and Shweta Chauhan, have been suspended.
- Show-cause notices were issued to Head Nurse Kalawati Balavi, Pediatric ICU In-charge Praveena Singh, and Pediatric Surgery Head Dr. Manoj Joshi.
- Nursing Superintendent Margret Joseph has been removed and replaced by Dayawati Dayal.
Action Against Pest Control Service
The hospital has also penalised the pest control agency with a fine of ₹1 lakh. The company has been asked to explain why its contract should not be terminated. Initial findings suggest that heavy rains and flooding in the vicinity of the hospital building may have contributed to the rat infestation.
Conclusion
To prevent such incidents in the future, a five-member high-level inquiry committee, including doctors and a nursing officer, has been formed. The committee must submit its findings within a week.
Additionally, the Madhya Pradesh State Human Rights Commission has directed the hospital’s Medical Superintendent to carry out a thorough investigation and submit a detailed report within the same timeframe.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
- Health News and Updates,People Forum
- 3 September 2025
- 09:00
