Newborn bitten by rats in Andhra hospital, dies

Hyderabad, Aug 27  In a shocking incident, a 10-day-old baby died after being bitten by rats in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a government-run hospital in Guntur town of Andhra Pradesh.

Though the mother of the newborn noticed wounds on Sunday, the hospital authorities suppressed the facts.

The family revealed the incident after the baby died on Wednesday.

The boy was born to a woman named Laxmi on August 17 at Vijayawada.

He was shifted to Guntur for a surgery after developing some health complications and afterwards, placed in the ICU.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu late on Wednesday ordered suspension of three officials.

"Shocked & deeply disturbed after learning that a baby boy died after bitten by rats in Guntur hospital," Naidu tweeted.

The chief minister also ordered probe by the health secretary. He directed him to submit the report in 48 hours.

Naidu warned officials that such incidents should not recur.