A disturbing video from the orthopaedic ward of Gonda Medical College in Uttar Pradesh has gone viral, showing multiple rats roaming freely near patients’ beds, on the floor and even close to oxygen pipelines, sparking widespread outrage over poor hygiene and patient safety.
The footage, reportedly recorded by an admitted patient, prompted District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan to reprimand the institution’s principal, Professor Dhananjay Shrikant Kotasthane, and order an immediate probe into the incident.
Anti-rodent measures including pest-control spraying have been carried out and new ward rules restricting attendants and food items have been introduced, while the hospital administration and local political voices have faced scrutiny over conditions.
“Patients or Pests? Official Action
A video circulating widely on social media paints an alarming picture of Gonda Medical College’s orthopaedic ward, where at least five large rats are seen scurrying across patient beds, tables and near oxygen pipelines essential lifelines for those in critical care.
The patient who recorded the footage said it was filmed inside the ward around two days before it went viral, capturing scenes where rodents move unabashedly in proximity to resting patients, heightening anxiety among those admitted and their families.
The clip drew swift administrative attention. District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan ordered immediate corrective measures and a detailed inquiry into the circumstances that allowed rodent activity inside a medical facility.
She reportedly reprimanded the principal, Professor Dhananjay Shrikant Kotasthane, and instructed the college to prioritise hygiene and patient safety. Subsequently, anti-rodent medicines were sprayed across the orthopaedic ward and extended to other hospital areas as a precaution. The district administration has emphasised that the probe will determine accountability and propose long-term measures to prevent recurrence.
Hospital authorities, including Medical Superintendent D N Singh, have introduced measures such as restricting ward entry to one attendant per patient (outside visiting hours) and banning large quantities of food brought in by visitors steps officials say should reduce rat attraction to human food sources.
A comprehensive cleanliness drive has also been ordered across all wards. Professor Kotasthane acknowledged that food brought by relatives can attract rodents and reiterated that patient safety remains a priority, assuring that no negligence will be tolerated as the probe proceeds.
Public Outcry Fuels Political Debate
The footage has ignited a firestorm of public and political reactions across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and local media. Many users expressed shock at the apparent lack of basic sanitation and questioned how a government medical college entrusted with healing the sick could allow rodent infestation in areas where vulnerable patients are treated. Social media posts have described the ward as “meant for rats, not humans,” and stirred debate about standards in public health institutions.
Political parties have also waded into the controversy. The Congress party shared the video on its official handles, criticising the Uttar Pradesh government’s handling of hospital hygiene and patient care, arguing that such conditions are unacceptable in institutions meant to serve the public. These political interventions underscore how public health infrastructure has become a broader point of contention in civic discourse.
Local citizens and patient families voiced deep concern over their safety and dignity. Some described feeling fearful and distressed after witnessing rats near their beds, especially given the risk of infection and spread of disease.
The incident has also reignited conversations about how sanitation lapses in public hospitals can disproportionately affect the poor, who rely heavily on government healthcare services. Experts and commentators have underscored the need for regular sanitation audits, pest-control protocols and stronger oversight mechanisms to protect patient welfare.
Hygiene Challenges in Public Healthcare
While the Gonda video brings into sharp focus the disturbing presence of rats in a hospital ward, it also resonates with wider issues in public healthcare across India. Sanitation and cleanliness have long been areas of concern in government facilities, with episodic media reports over the years highlighting problems such as inadequate waste management, structural disrepair, and pest infestations.
Public health experts argue that these challenges often stem from systemic issues, including under-resourced infrastructure, staffing shortages and inconsistent enforcement of hygiene standards.
Rats, in particular, pose serious health risks they are known carriers of pathogens that can cause leptospirosis, hantavirus and salmonellosis, and can contaminate medical supplies and food. Their presence in clinical areas, especially near oxygen pipelines and medical equipment, raises concerns not only about perception but also about tangible risks to infection control and patient recovery.
Medical professionals and infection control specialists note that hospitals operating without robust pest-control strategies risk undermining patient confidence and compromising care outcomes.
In response to the Gonda incident, healthcare watchdogs and civil society groups have called for independent inspections of sanitation practices across similar institutions. Advocates stress that proactive measures such as routine pest control, infrastructural upgrades and community accountability are essential to ensuring that healthcare settings remain safe and dignified spaces for healing.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The image of rats roaming freely inside a hospital ward is not merely a momentary viral sensation it reflects deeper issues about dignity, equity and governance in public health. Healthcare institutions should be sanctuaries of care and safety, not places where patients must fear for their wellbeing due to preventable hygiene lapses.
While it is positive that authorities have acted swiftly with pest control and an inquiry, true change demands ongoing commitment to high standards, transparency and patient-centric policies. Public trust in healthcare is fragile and must be nurtured through empathy, accountability and systematic improvements, not just reactive measures after a scandal breaks.
