Gonda, Uttar Pradesh – January 14, 2026
TCO News Desk
In a stark revelation exposing the dire state of public healthcare infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, a viral video from the orthopedic ward of Gonda Medical College has ignited widespread outrage. The footage, captured just two days ago, depicts multiple rats scurrying unabated across patient beds, intravenous (IV) stands, and even oxygen pipelines—posing severe risks of infection and contamination to vulnerable post-surgery patients.
The disturbing clip, shared widely on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by fact-checker Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear), quickly amassed over 10,000 likes and 200,000 views within hours. In the 32-second video, the rodents are seen boldly navigating the dimly lit ward, climbing onto medical equipment and darting perilously close to immobilized patients. "Condition of Gonda Medical College, Uttar Pradesh. The orthopedic ward of Gonda Medical College where several rats are seen roaming near patients and oxygen pipelines," Zubair captioned the post, highlighting the "JustRamRajyaThings" irony in a nod to ongoing political critiques of governance.
The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from opposition leaders, with the Indian National Congress amplifying the video to lambast the state government's healthcare priorities. "Rats having a field day in a ward meant for humans—fat and thin, they're everywhere. This is the reality of UP's medical colleges under BJP rule," a Congress spokesperson remarked, echoing sentiments from social media users who decried it as a "health hazard waiting to explode."
Gonda Medical College, officially known as the Autonomous State Medical College and affiliated with Babu Ishwar Sharan Hospital, serves as a critical facility for the region's underprivileged population. The orthopedic ward, in particular, caters to hundreds of patients recovering from fractures, joint replacements, and trauma surgeries—making the presence of disease-carrying pests a potential vector for outbreaks like leptospirosis or hantavirus.
In response to the uproar, Gonda District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan swiftly intervened, reprimanding Medical College Principal Professor Dhananjay Shrikant Kotastane and directing immediate pest control operations. "The administration has carried out fumigation and deratting across the orthopedics ward and other sections of the hospital," confirmed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Manish Sharma. A dedicated committee has been formed to investigate the lapse, with Sharma assuring, "We acknowledge the issue and are committed to rectifying it to prevent recurrence."
Principal Kotastane, speaking to reporters, attributed the infestation partly to external factors: "Foods brought by patients' relatives often attract rats. We assure that patients' hygiene and safety will not be compromised, and an inquiry has been launched to determine accountability." However, critics argue that such explanations sidestep systemic failures, including inadequate sanitation protocols and understaffing—issues that have plagued Uttar Pradesh's government hospitals for years.
This is not an isolated case; similar reports of rodent infestations and unhygienic conditions have surfaced in medical facilities across the state, underscoring a broader crisis in public health funding and oversight. As the video continues to circulate, activists and healthcare experts are calling for a comprehensive audit of all state-run colleges, demanding stricter enforcement of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) standards.
Patients' families at Gonda Medical College expressed mixed relief and frustration. "We've seen the rats ourselves—it's terrifying when your loved one is hooked to machines," said Rani Devi, whose husband is recovering from a hip fracture in the ward. "Pest control is a start, but what about real change?"
Authorities have pledged follow-up inspections, but for now, the rodents' reign in Gonda serves as a grim reminder: in India's race for development, the basics of clean care remain alarmingly elusive.
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