Bihar: Shocking news! 8-day-old newborn dies due to 'rat bite' in Darbhanga

An eight-day-old newborn died allegedly due to rat bite in the neonatal intensive care unit of a government hospital in Bihar's Darbhanga district on Tuesday.

The incident came to light in the morning when the mother went to breastfeed the newborn at the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) -- 146 km north of Patna. The couple hailed from Najra village in Madhubani district.

The parents alleged that the death happened due to rat bite, saying that blood was oozing out from the injury marks and scars found on the baby boy's toes and fingers.

The claim was, however, dismissed by the hospital, which said the baby died at around 4:30 am in the morning due to "serious heart ailment".

Om Prakash, the in charge of the hospital's paediatric department, said the infant was admitted to the hospital's paediatric ward eight days back due to a breathing problem arising out of heart-related complications at birth.

Prakash admitted that rodents have created a menace in the hospital, but dismissed the parents' claim that the child died due to rat bites.

"It has become difficult for us to control the rats' menace at the hospital despite our attempts to get rid of them," he added.

Parents and other relatives protested in front of Deputy Development Commissioner Kari Prasad Mahto's residence.

District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Prasad Singh has constituted a three-member committee -- comprising deputy development commissioner, sub-divisional officer and the sub-divisional police officer -- to probe the incident and submit a report at the earliest.

The DM said stern action would be taken against the erring persons.