Mumbai: Patient bitten by rat in Rajawadi hospital dies

A 24-year-old patient, who was bitten by a rat near his eye at a civic-run Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar, has died at the medical facility, BMC officials said.

The patient was suffering from alcohol-related liver disease and was in a very critical condition since the day of his admission in the Rajawadi Hospital, they said, adding that he died on Wednesday.

The incident had led to protests. The patient identified as Shrinivas Yellappa, 24, was hospitalized for liver complications on Sunday and was on ventilator.  

On Tuesday one of patient's relative saw a bandage below his left eye and created ruckus when informed that a rat might have nibbled the patient on the cheek. The authorites comforted the patient's relative that the rat-bite was not serious and would heal soon, but the patient's family was not convinced. 

Mayor Kishori Pednekar suspected that since the ICU is on the ground floor, the rat may have sneaked in unnoticed when the door was opened by one of the staffers.

The opposition parties have slammed the BMC for failing to protect patients from such happenings and demanded a thorough probe into the matter.

Reacting to the rat bite incident, the hospital''s Dean Dr Vidya Thakur had said they have taken some rodent repellent measures and will take utmost care to avoid such incidents.