A video showing rats floating in utensils and running inside pots at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee’s mess has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage.
According to students, the footage was recorded inside the mess of Radha-Krishna Bhawan at the Uttarakhand-based institute. They alleged they found rats inside cooking utensils, rice bags, a frying pan, and even pots filled with water used for meal preparation.
Watch:
IIT Roorkee के मेस के खाने मैं मिले चूहे। वीडियो मैं देखें…#iitroorkee pic.twitter.com/os0CK8Qgc0
— Neha Bohra (@neha_suyal) October 17, 2024
The incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon when students, arriving at the mess for lunch, discovered the rats in the kitchen. The sight of the rodents alarmed the students, who expressed fears that they might have unknowingly consumed food contaminated by rats. (Also read: Rats feast on sweets, runs over laddoos at Delhi shop. Viral video leaves internet disgusted)
Following the spread of the video across the institute, hundreds of students gathered outside the mess area in protest, demanding action over the appalling kitchen conditions.
However, IIT Roorkee denied the allegations and labeled the video as misleading in an official statement.
“Following the preliminary investigation into the incident reported at Radha Krishna Bhawan mess, it has been clarified that the video circulating on social media was taken by students who entered the mess late at night. The footage shows rodents in a closed area of the mess where only empty utensils and non-edible items were stored. No food items were contaminated. The videos appear to be a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the situation,” the statement reads.
The administration further noted that they have taken the viral video into account and have initiated an investigation. “Immediate investigation has been started, and corrective action is being taken to ensure compliance with hygiene standards. The health and safety of the students remains the top priority. External special experts have been engaged to assess the situation and prevent such incidents in future,” Sonika Shrivastava, IIT Roorkee’s media in-charge, told India Today.
