Elderly ICU patient allegedly bitten by rat at Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Hospital

The victim has been identified as 89-year-old Suhasini Mathekar, who was admitted to the hospital on March 12 due to health-related issues. Due to her critical condition, she was kept on a ventilator in the ICU, located on the fourth floor of the building.

On the morning of March 13, when family members entered the ICU, they were horrified to discover that a rat had bitten the elderly woman on the hand. According to the family, the rat fled only after they intervened.

Following the incident, the family has accused hospital staff of negligence, questioning why the doctors and nurses on night duty failed to notice the presence of a rat—or the patient's distress—in such a sensitive environment.  

Speaking to the Free Press Journal media news report, a family member stated, "It is extremely shocking that such an incident could occur even in an area like the ICU, which is allegedly completely sterile and under strict surveillance."

Therefore, the family has officially demanded a thorough investigation into the conduct of the staff on duty. Furthermore, they have called for an immediate audit of the hospital's sanitation and pest control measures, as well as strict action against those responsible for this lapse, to ensure that such a tragic incident never occurs again.

Meanwhile, this incident has sparked massive public outrage regarding alleged administrative apathy, and many are demanding a high-level inquiry into the hospital's management. The presence of rats in the ICU points to a complete breakdown of hygiene and safety protocols. Such lapses not only affect individual patients but also pose a significant risk of infection to everyone present in the ward.