The health department has taken swift action after disturbing videos surfaced on social media showing rats roaming freely inside the Vishal Mega Mart outlet in Ponda, Goa. Following the alarming footage, health officials conducted an inspection of the store, located at Menino Trade Centre on Market Road, Durgabhat, Ponda.
As a result of the inspection, the outlet has been given a strict 8-day deadline to rectify the hygiene issues. Authorities have ordered a temporary closure of the store to ensure the premises are thoroughly sanitized and brought up to the required hygiene standards.
This inspection follows previous incidents involving Vishal Mega Mart’s other locations. In Odisha, the retail chain faced fines for selling expired products and operating without proper licenses. In 2021, a Vishal Mega Mart store in Bhubaneswar was sealed by the municipal corporation for violating COVID-19 safety protocols.
The Ponda outlet, like many other Vishal Mega Mart stores, has received its share of attention over hygiene concerns. However, this most recent inspection serves as a critical reminder to all retail establishments about the importance of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene for consumer safety.
Vishal Mega Mart in Ponda operates daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and once it reopens after the sanitation process, it will be closely monitored to ensure compliance with the necessary health and safety regulations.