A viral video that emerged on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) of Gonda Medical College and Hospital, where rats were roaming freely in the orthopedic ward, has created a stir, raising serious questions about hygiene and patient safety.
In the video, a patient is seen on a bed in a ward of Gonda Medical College, his medicines are placed on a steel rack next to him and rats are climbing a pole next to the bed and trying to tear open a package believed to contain food.
More than a dozen rats can be seen darting from one side of the bed to the other. When the video went viral, the opposition alleged that the health infrastructure in UP was in shambles due to the lack of a check and balance mechanism.
“Incidents such as this require transparent investigation and immediate corrective action. Hospital administration must be held accountable through robust monitoring mechanisms, and it must be clear how such a failure could have occurred. Public health infrastructure requires regular audits, adequate staffing and strict standards of cleanliness. If such conditions are neglected, the system needs urgent attention and reform. Independent inspections, better funding for infection control of all key sanitation workers should hospitals be established to ensure that this does not happen again,” said Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Nasser Salim.
The SP spokesperson added that the people of the state deserve safe, clean and reliable healthcare facilities. “Ensuring this should be the immediate priority of the administration at all levels.” said Mr. Salim.
The Congress party accused the Uttar Pradesh government of a lack of regulatory oversight.
“This scene at Gonda Medical College in UP is not only shameful but also horrifying. There are measures other than ribbon-cutting, inauguration and photo-taking. When there is no cleanliness, security and respect, the medical college buildings become mere concrete structures. The reality is that the health infrastructure in UP is in shambles due to the lack of a check and balance accountability mechanism,” said Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary of the Alam Congress.
Published – 15 Jan 2026 05:45 IST
