A viral video showing a live rat inside a bowl of pani puri water at a roadside stall has triggered widespread outrage on social media and renewed concerns about street food hygiene.
The clip, shared on Instagram by a content creator, captures a shocking moment at a golgappa stall in Amritsar. In the video, a rodent is seen splashing inside the bowl of spiced water kept for serving customers. The vendor is later seen scooping it out before the rat leaps away towards a nearby drain.
The video quickly garnered nearly three lakh views, leaving netizens both stunned and disgusted.
Vendor forced to discard water
According to the video description, those filming confronted the vendor and asked him to discard the contaminated water. It remains unclear whether the rat had been inside the bowl for long or had just entered moments before being noticed.
Social media users flooded the comments section with reactions. Some questioned how the rodent managed to enter if the setup appeared clean, while others expressed relief that the water was thrown away. A few even joked nervously, calling it “Ratatouille,” while others hoped the video was artificially generated.
Hygiene concerns resurface
The incident has once again highlighted the hygiene challenges faced by open street food setups. From dust and flies to rodents, roadside vendors often struggle to maintain strict food safety standards, especially in crowded and humid urban environments.
Similar cases have surfaced in recent months, prompting action from local authorities in some cities. Food safety experts emphasise the importance of covered containers, proper waste disposal and regular inspections to prevent contamination.
While golgappa remains a beloved snack across India, such incidents serve as a reminder that food safety cannot be compromised — even for a favourite street-side treat.