Indore MY Hospital ‘Rat Incident’ sparks global outcry and High Court probe

First reported in UAE’s Gulf News on September 6, the incident quickly drew coverage in Brazil, Hong Kong and Malaysia, exposing alleged efforts by local authorities to downplay the catastrophe.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo moto cognizance, ordering an immediate inspection of MY Hospital on Friday evening. A legal team led by Additional Advocate General Vishwajeet Joshi, Deputy Advocate General Sudeep Bhargav and Assistant Advocate Kritika Hote toured the second floor, Pediatric Surgery Department and NICU alongside Dean In-charge Dr. Arvind Shukla and Superintendent Dr. Basant Nigwal. Photographic and video evidence of rodent droppings and gnawed wiring in critical wards will form part of the court record.

Investigators identified severe lapses by Agile, the contracted pest control agency, whose negligence allegedly allowed rat infestations to proliferate. Hospital management also came under fire for ignoring repeated safety warnings. Medical experts warn that rodents in life-support areas pose an imminent threat to patient survival, highlighting this case as emblematic of systemic administrative failure.

This is not the first tragedy at MY Hospital. In 2016, a fire claimed the lives of several children due to poor emergency protocols. The recurrence of fatal incidents has intensified scrutiny on the hospital’s governance and the state health department’s oversight. The High Court has directed the Madhya Pradesh government to take strict administrative and criminal action against responsible officials.

In response, the tribal youth organization Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) has launched the ‘Public Outrage Movement – MY Indore’. National President Advocate Lokesh Mujalde lambasted the government for shielding senior officers and demanded unintentional murder charges. JAYS revealed that grieving parents received their child’s body in a sealed box, only to discover missing fingers—an appalling testament to the incident’s brutality.

JAYS has outlined a three-phase campaign across the state:

• September 15: Submission of memorandums to all district collectorates demanding suspension of negligent staff and registration of criminal cases.
  
  

• September 17: Mass protest during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Healthy Woman – Empowered Family Program” in Badnawar, pressing for accountability before celebrating public welfare initiatives.
  
  

• September 21: A statewide rally at MY Hospital involving over 50 social organizations to sustain pressure for justice.
  
  

As public indignation mounts and international media scrutiny intensifies, the MY Hospital rat incident has become a flashpoint for demands of transparency, improved healthcare standards and unwavering legal action. The coming weeks will test Madhya Pradesh’s commitment to preventing such horrors from recurring and ensuring that victims’ families receive justice.