‘Dead mouse’ found in Hershey’s chocolate syrup; company apologizes to user
Chennai: A dead mouse allegedly discovered in a bottle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup ordered by a family in Chennai through Zepto, a grocery delivery app, has come to light late, with the family sharing the news on social media.
The family had reportedly ordered the chocolate syrup a couple of weeks ago, to consume with brownie cakes. When they found a lot of small hair in the syrup while pouring, they turned suspicious and decided to open ‘sealed and intact’ bottle. They poured the thick syrup into a disposable cup and were distressed to discover a dead rat inside. A family member confirmed the dead animal by washing it in tap water and probing it with a spoon.
A video clip of the family finding the dead mouse in the syrup was posted on Instagram under the user name ‘pramisridhar’. The user has claimed that out of three members in the family who had consumed the chocolate syrup, two girls were hospitalized. “This is extremely concerning and unacceptable. We [are] worried about the health risks and the lack of quality control,” said the post, with the family stating that they filed a case in this regard.
Hershey’s India has apologized to the Instagram user and has requested for the manufacturing code and date of the product in order to deal with the matter.
Social media, however, is abuzz with the case and such incidents of unhygienic food being reported repeatedly from different parts of the country. A scorpion in an ice cream tub ordered by a Noida-based woman and a part of human finger and nail in a cone ice cream ordered online in Mumbai are some recent cases that showed the level of food safety maintenance in the country in very poor light.
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
