2 newborn babies in India hospital die after supposedly bitten by rats, hospital denies claims

Two newborn babies in India died after they were allegedly bitten by rats in the Neonatal Surgical Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Indore's Maharaja Yeshwantrao (MY) Hospital.

According to Indian news outlet NDTV, the first baby died on Sep. 2, while the second baby, who was on a ventilator, died on the afternoon of Sep. 3.

The superintendent of the hospital in the state of Madhya Pradesh told the media that both babies had congenital anaemia.

"Bite marks were present on the children, but they do not cause death. One died, while the other was in critical condition with an underdeveloped intestine," he said.

Speaking to the media on Sep. 3, India's Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh had instructed strict actions to be taken regarding the incident, and the government would not tolerate negligence.

The deputy superintendent of MY Hospital said that the second baby, who was 15 days old and underweight, had undergone an operation one week ago.

Her condition was not improving, so she was placed on a ventilator, NDTV wrote.

A rat bite was found on the finger, but the deputy superintendent said the baby died from congenital anaemia.

Staff suspended

The New Indian Express stated that two nurses from MY Hospital have been suspended and the nursing superintendent has been "removed".

A fine was also imposed on the pest control company contracted by the hospital.

A committee has also been formed to investigate the presence of rats in the NICU.

Hospital staff apparently admitted that a large rat was roaming the NICU, NDTV reported.

The Times of India wrote that the hospital and the adjacent medical facilities have become a breeding ground for rats due to attendants bringing food into the wards.

The deputy superintendent claimed that the ongoing rainy season has also forced rats out of their burrows, and a broken pipeline gave the rats a way to enter the wards.

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