Patna: The state government in Bihar has ordered an investigation after street dogs were found sleeping on beds alongside patients to fight the deadly cold at a leading government hospital.

The investigation followed shortly after a video of street dogs occupying seats on the beds meant for patients at the Sadar Hospital in Muzaffarpur, a northern Bihar town, and spending the nights in the highly protective environment went viral in the media.

“It’s a very serious matter. We have sought a report from the local civil surgeon. Action will be taken once we get the report,” Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey who comes from the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) told the media on Wednesday.

The photographs that have gone viral show the dogs on the beds alongside several patients admitted to the surgical ward of the hospital. Reports said occupied at least 10 of the total 40 beds in the surgery wardsince the city began experiencing winter spell.

The patients having undergone surgeries or suffering from burn injuries are admitted to this ward but they refrain from driving out dogs out of fear of being attacked by them. Reports say on an average 60 patients of dog bites come to this hospital every day for treatment indicating the menace of street dogs.

“We chased away dogs sometimes but ultimately they attacked us instead. We then stopped doing that apprehending they could attack our patients,” a patient’s attendant told media.

Witnesses said the dogs occupy beds shortly after the nightfallg. They said no hospital staff are seen post midnight to stop the entry of dogs and chase them away. “We complained to the hospital authorities but nothing worked,” a witness said.

Taking the matter seriously, the local administration has now ordered for putting up iron grills in windows of the ward. “I have ordered the building construction department to fit iron grills in the surgical ward to prevent street dogs coming to the hospital and grab patients’ beds,” Muzaffarpur district magistrate Dharmendra Singh said.

He said the medical superintendent, deputy superintendent and hospital manager were responsible for smooth functioning of the hospital.

“But it appears that these officials were not carrying out regular monitoring of the hospital. I have also inquired about dogs sleeping in wards and have directed that ward attendant and security personnel must always remain at the ward,” Singh said.