india

Updated: Aug 27, 2015 21:00 IST

A newborn has died after being bitten by rats in a government hospital in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, the baby's parents alleged Thursday.

Chavali Lakshmi said her nine-day old son was being treated for urinary tract infection at the Guntur Government Hospital when he was attacked by rats on two consecutive days.

The baby had correctional surgery on August 19 and was kept in the special ward for children, but five days later the parents noticed to their horror that his fingers were nibbled off by rats.

They informed the hospital authorities, but they did not respond and even allegedly tried to hush up the matter.

“They did not let us take way our baby after the Monday incident, which could have saved his life," said Lakshmi adding that the rats attacked the newborn again the next day and bit off the flesh from several parts of the body.

The baby died on Wednesday after the hospital staff stitched his wounds and left him without further care, she alleged.

Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu suspended the resident medical officer and two sanitary officials at the hospital and ordered a probe.