Rats! Cleaning drive  embarrassment

In an embarrassing twist to the cleaning drives conducted on a war footing to bring fever outbreaks under control, the remains of a dead rat were found in the water in a General Hospital.

KOZHIKODE: In an embarrassing twist to the cleaning drives conducted on a war footing to bring fever outbreaks under control, the remains of a dead rat were found in the water in the General Hospital at Beach Road on Sunday. The rat’s decayed parts were found when a woman collected water from the pipe to bathe her daughter. A follow-up inspection revealed a dead rat inside the water tank from which water is supplied to the 24th ward where fever and dengue cases are admitted. 

M K Raghavan MP checks the decayed
parts of a rodent found in potable water at
Beach Hospital on Sunday | T P Sooraj


The hospital premises was cleaned two days back as part of the statewide cleaning drive. Additional District Magistrate Janil Kumar, Deputy District Medical Officer Dr M P Jeeja and RCH Officer Dr Sarala conducted an inspection and took evidence from patients in the ward when Health Minister K K Shailaja intervened, and asked the Health Services director for a report.  

Sarala told Express the tank in which the rat was found will be removed.

A departmental inquiry will also be conducted. Congress workers lead by DCC President T Siddique conducted a sit-in protest at the hospital and demanded the expulsion of the hospital superintendent.

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