A Hyderabad resident was in for a shock this week, after she checked a parcel of dal that she ordered, and found a decomposing rat.
Sumana, a resident of Madhapur, ordered the dal from popular online grocery store Big Basket. The dal in question was packaged under the website's own brand name.
"I ordered it on August 6 in the evening, and it arrived a day later. As I was busy, I only checked the parcel on the morning of August 8, and found a black creature in the dal packet, which I figured was a dead rat," Sumana tells TNM.
"We immediately took pictures and videos of the packet, and opened it in front of camera, to find the dead rat in it," she added.
Sumana says she was shocked by the incident.
"I have been using Big Basket for more than two years now. I have got some sub-standard vegetables sometimes, but nothing this serious. This is way beyond anyone's expectation,” Sumana says.
Sumana says she never imagined that she would find a dead rat in her food.
“We buy from certain places because of the brand name, that comes with an assurance of quality," she says.
"I have sent a mail to them and they offered to replace the packet. However, I'm not interested in a replacement. A company representative has also offered to meet me personally on the issue. They are responding positively on the issue," she adds.
Sumana has also filed a complaint with the Madhapur police station.
Speaking to TNM, Sub-Inspector Chandra Shekar said, "We have registered the complaint and notified officials from the Health Department of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Once they inspect the package, further course of action will be decided."
Sumana also confirmed that the GHMC health officials had contacted her.
"At the end of the day, it is not just about my case. It is a question of public health. In the same batch that I got the rat, other people would have gotten just the food, and may have even eaten it. Officials must investigate and get to the bottom of this," Sumana says.
@bigbasket_com .Got a rat free with dal pic.twitter.com/ygW5w8OgB6
— Sudharani Manikonda (@sudharanimb) August 9, 2017
We will escalate this to concern team and necessary action will be taken regarding this.
— bigbasket (@bigbasket_com) August 9, 2017