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Infant’s thumb severed as nurse tries removing cannula at MP’s largest state hospital

Nurse suspended; officials say baby was rushed into surgery and the thumb was attached.

2 min readBhopalJan 10, 2026 08:22 PM IST

Infant, Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital, MY Hospital, Indore, pneumonia,

Hospital authorities said the incident occurred on Wednesday inside the paediatric ward. (Photo: mgmmcindore.in)

A one-and-a-half-month-old infant undergoing treatment for pneumonia at Indore’s Maharaja Yashwantrao (MY) Hospital had his thumb accidentally severed when a nurse attempted to remove a cannula, prompting disciplinary action and an administrative inquiry at Madhya Pradesh’s largest state-run medical facility.

Hospital authorities said the incident occurred on Wednesday inside the paediatric ward. Dean of MGM Medical College, Dr Arvind Ghanghoria, who also oversees MY Hospital, said the baby had been recovering after ventilator support when the nurse used scissors to cut away an adhesive bandage securing an IV line. “While removing the venflon, the child’s thumb was accidentally severed,” he said.

Doctors immediately shifted the infant to the Super Speciality Hospital, where a surgical team successfully reattached the thumb. The child, now off ventilation, is stable.

Dr Ghanghoria said the nurse has been suspended for negligence. Three senior nurses supervising the ward will have their one-month salaries docked for failing to ensure proper oversight. He said he directed the hospital superintendent to form a committee to examine how the lapse took place and submit its findings within 24 hours.

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The inquiry panel is headed by Superintendent Dr Ashok Yadav and includes paediatrician Dr Nirbhay Mehta, Deputy Superintendent Dr Rohit Baderia and Nursing Superintendent Dayavati Dayal. Statements of staff on duty are being recorded.

MY Hospital, a 3,000-bed tertiary centre central to public healthcare in the state, has faced scrutiny before. It was in headlines last year after two newborns died in the neonatal unit in an incident initially linked to rat bites. Post-mortem findings later pointed to complications of prematurity, according to hospital officials.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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