Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A viral video purportedly showing rodents having a field day in a paediatric ward of the 60-year-old Mandla District Hospital sent the administration in a tizzy on Friday. 

The video shows a patient in bed with rats swarming around his head. The video, reportedly taken by a patient’s relative, also shows rats near beds, under baby warmers, and around medicine, and even eating from patients’ plates, sparking public outrage. 

Taking cognizance of the video, Public Health Engineering Department Minister SampatiyaUikey instructing the Mandla Collector to take immediate action.

On his part, Collector Somesh Mishra rushed to the hospital for an inspection and issued show cause notices to the Civil Surgeon and the hospital management.

Mishra said to the Free Press, “Show cause notices have been issued to the Civil Surgeon and the hospital management for not taking proper measures to check rodents on the campus. It is a general paediatric ward. Eight months ago, pest control was done. Orders have again been issued for pest control on Saturday along with fumigation. Rat traps will also be used. This is an old building. Patients’ attendants dump leftovers behind the hospital so rodents come out of their hideouts.”