Rat swims in pani puri? Viral video shows mouse leaping from masala bowl at a golgappa stall

Shocking Discovery at Amritsar Street Stall

A content creator and his friend were savoring the popular street snack golgappa, also known as pani puri, at a bustling roadside stall in Amritsar, Punjab, when horror unfolded.

As they filmed a casual challenge video, unusual movement caught their eye in the large bowl holding the tangy, spiced water mixed with masala – the heart of every pani puri bite.

To their disbelief, a live rat surfaced, splashing around in the contaminated mixture before the vendor hurriedly tried to fish it out.

The rodent, coated in the spicy sludge, leaped from the bowl and scampered into a nearby drain, leaving everyone stunned.

The duo immediately demanded the vendor discard the entire tainted batch, which he did on the spot, averting potential disaster for other customers nearby.

Video Goes Viral, Netizens React with Disgust and Doubt

The clip, shared on Instagram by creator @karan_dhanju26 with the stark caption "Rat in Pani Puri," exploded online, racking up nearly 300,000 views in hours.

Social media erupted in a frenzy of reactions, blending revulsion, skepticism, and dark humor.

Many users expressed sheer disgust, questioning how such a mishap could occur amid the daily rush of street food crowds.

one commenter pondered, capturing the mix of curiosity and relief.

The rest of the setup looked really clean. So what happened there? Did it enter after the cart was already in place, or was it from long before? The rat must have entered just then because how was it even alive for that long. Anyways, it’s a good thing that you people asked the vendor to throw the water away,

Others joked about "Ratatouille" or dubbed it "non-veg pani puri," while some pleaded, "Please say it’s AI," fueling debates on the video's authenticity.

Critics slammed it as a stark reminder of poor hygiene, with remarks like "Indian street food hygiene in a nutshell."

Broader Concerns Over Street Food Safety in India

This incident has reignited longstanding worries about hygiene at India's vibrant street food scene, where pani puri stalls draw massive crowds for their irresistible crunch and zing.

Open-air setups in dusty, humid urban spots often lack proper covers on food containers, turning them into magnets for pests like rats, flies, and dust.

Such vulnerabilities highlight gaps in compliance with food safety regulations, as vendors juggle high volumes with minimal infrastructure.

Similar scares have cropped up before: just last December, a pani puri cart in Virar, Maharashtra, panicked customers when a live green snake slithered out from behind the setup.

Earlier in 2025, authorities in Ahmedabad sealed a popular stall after videos showed insects crawling in the mixture.

These episodes underscore the need for stricter monitoring, better pest control, and awareness among vendors and eaters alike.

While street food remains a beloved cultural staple from Mumbai beaches to Uttar Pradesh bylanes, moments like this prompt calls for vigilance to preserve the joy without the jeopardy.

In summary, the Amritsar rat-in-pani-puri video has gone viral, exposing hygiene risks at street stalls, provoking diverse online reactions, and echoing past contamination scares that demand improved food safety measures across India's street food landscape.