Deaths of infants bitten by rats: Tribal group launches protest at Indore hospital

Indore, Sep 21 (PTI) A tribal organisation on Sunday launched an indefinite sit-in at the state-run Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital (MYH) here, demanding action against top officials over the deaths of two newborn girls, who had been bitten by rats.

Members of Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti sat at the main gate of MYH and began their protest. MYH is among the largest government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh and is attached to the state-run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore.

The protesters alleged gross negligence on the part of the college dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoria and MYH Superintendent Dr Ashok Yadav. They demanded their suspension and registration of a case of culpable homicide against the two senior doctors.

“Until action is taken against the dean and the hospital superintendent, the families of the two newborns mauled by rats will not get justice,” said Lokesh Mujalda, national president of the tribal organisation.

Rats bit the fingers of one newborn in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the 75-year-old MYH, while another was bitten on the head and shoulder. The incidents took place on the intervening night of August 31 and September 1, and the infants died subsequently.

According to the hospital authorities, both infants, one from a tribal family and another belonging to a minority community, died due to other health reasons.

MYH officiating superintendent Dr Basant Kumar Ningwal said on Sunday that efforts were made by him and other administrative officers to pacify the protesters, but they refused to relent.

“Patients are facing hardship due to the sit-in and sloganeering on the hospital premises,” he added.

Rejecting allegations of negligence, MYH administration maintained that the deaths had nothing to do with rat bites and were instead caused by severe health complications due to congenital deformities.

So far, disciplinary action has been taken against eight officials, including suspension and removal from posts, in connection with the incident. Superintendent Dr Ashok Yadav has proceeded on long leave citing “serious health issues”. PTI HWP LAL NR