Viral video of vendor dipping plastic pouches in hot oil to open them sparks outrage

A shocking video from the city has gone viral on social media, showing a street vendor making pakoras opening refined oil pouches by directly immersing them into a kadhai of boiling oil — a dangerous act that has sparked widespread public anger and raised serious health concerns.

The video shot at a roadside vend under the Gill Chowk flyover shows the vendor casually dipping sealed plastic pouches of oil into hot oil to burst them open before preparing pakoras. Viewers have condemned the act as reckless and hazardous, with many calling it a “cancer bomb” and accusing the vendor of endangering public health.

“It isn’t just unhygienic — it’s criminal. Who puts plastic in boiling oil and serves it to people?” said Ramesh Arora, a local resident, who shared the video online.

Following the uproar, the Health Department swung into action. Food safety officials raided the vendor’s stall, collected samples of sauce, bread toast and refined oil and sent them for laboratory testing. The team also reprimanded the vendor for poor hygiene and instructed him to maintain cleanliness.

“The stall was in a filthy condition. We’ve taken samples and issued a warning. Further action will depend on lab results,” said District Health Officer Amarjit Kaur.

The vendor later issued a public apology, claiming the act was inspired by a food blogger’s video.

“I saw it online and thought it was just for fun. I did not realise it could be harmful. I made a mistake — please forgive me,” he stated.

The incident has reignited calls for stricter monitoring of street food vendors and accountability for social media influencers promoting unsafe practices.