Patna – The Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) in Patna has drawn sharp criticism after a specially abled patient alleged that rats bit the fingers of his right leg while he was asleep in the Orthopedics ward on Saturday night.
The victim, Awadesh Kumar, said he woke up on Sunday to find his leg bleeding, with several fingers chewed by rats. “Rats have been creating havoc here. My family noticed the wounds and informed the staff,” Kumar told reporters.
The incident came to light after the patient’s relatives alerted hospital authorities. Dr Om Prakash, head of the Orthopedics Department, confirmed the matter had been reported to the medical superintendent.
This is not the first rat-related incident at NMCH. In November 2024, the eye of a deceased gunshot victim went missing, with rats being blamed. The state health department had then suspended two nurses for negligence.
Reacting strongly, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav condemned the incident on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the state government of failing to maintain basic hygiene and patient safety.
“In Patna’s NMCH, a specially abled patient’s fingers were bitten by rats. Recently, a deceased man’s eye was gnawed by rodents… the health system in Bihar is in ruins,” Yadav wrote.
“They may now claim a robotic machine worth crores removed the patient’s fingers,” he added sarcastically.
Health Minister Mangal Pandey was unavailable for comment.
The incident has reignited concerns over hospital sanitation, patient safety, and accountability in Bihar’s public health infrastructure, drawing demands for immediate action and reform.