Indore, February 19 A construction agency has been fined Rs 50,000 after a video of a cat roaming in a major government hospital in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, went viral on social media, an official said on Thursday.
Incidentally, last year, two infants had reportedly died due to rat bites in the intensive care unit of the government-run Maharaja Yashwantrao Chikitsalaya (MYH), one of the largest hospitals in the state.
"The cat was seen in the hospital's outpatient department (OPD) on Tuesday. A fine of Rs 50,000 has been imposed on the contractor agency, HLL, for negligence in maintaining the cleanliness of the hospital premises. They have also been instructed to capture the animal. We have also placed a cage in the canteen area for this," said MYH Superintendent Dr. Ashok Yadav.
He added that the cat has not caused any damage, and all patients' medications are completely safe.
"Patients and their attendants have been asked not to bring food items from outside to MYH and not to throw food items on the hospital premises, as these attract rats, cats, and dogs," Yadav informed.
In the intervening night of August 31 and September 1 last year, rats allegedly attacked two newborn girls in the ICU, leading to their death.
However, the MYH administration had claimed that the deaths of the two newborn girls were not due to rat bites, but rather due to pre-existing serious health problems resulting from different congenital malformations.