The biggest government hospital in Chhattisgarh, Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, had been facing a serious threat from rats, which prompted the authorities to launch a special drive, officials said.
After having a hard time controlling the rat menace, the hospital gave a rat-killing contract to an Indore-based company.
In first week of its drive, around 2,500 rats were killed on the hospital premises, they said.
"The rodents could be spotted anywhere right from the wards to kitchens, special departments, store rooms," Assistant Superintendent of the hospital Dr AP Padraha told PTI.
Apart from being a health hazard, the rats were also damaging important documents and hospital equipment.
Despite several attempts, the hospital administration had failed to get rid of the rats, he said.
Unable to bear the rat menace, the contract worth Rs 13.73 lakh was given to a company to kill the rodents, he added.
The company had started its drive on April 1.
"We had identified several spots, placed poisoned eatables near the burrows and sealed them. In last four day around 2,500 rats have been found dead," the Managing Director of the company Sanjay Karmakar said.
The company will continue their drive for one month and then keep the hospital rat-free for the following eleven months.
This will save the hospital from a huge losses, he added.
