Pune: In a disturbing incident that has sparked widespread concern, a rat crawled into a woman’s saree during a play at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha in Kothrud, a Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-run auditorium. The shocking episode has not only rattled theatregoers but also exposed glaring lapses in hygiene and maintenance at civic-owned venues.
The incident occurred on May 31 during a performance of the play Mooshak. According to witnesses and viral social media reports, the woman, a known theatre enthusiast, was calmly watching the show when she suddenly jumped up in panic as the rat entered her saree. Though there was no major commotion inside the auditorium, the woman rushed out, and it reportedly took around 20 minutes to safely remove the rodent. While she escaped without a bite, the rat’s claws left scratches on her leg, necessitating precautionary injections.
A post detailing the incident was shared widely by the Instagram handle ‘My Rangabhoomi’, quoting a message received via WhatsApp. It emphasized the seriousness of the hygiene issue in PMC-run theatres and noted that several audience members had noticed rats moving around the venue even before the show began.
Following a public outcry, the PMC has taken urgent steps to address the situation. Pest control measures have been initiated across all municipal auditoriums. More significantly, the civic body has now made it mandatory to clean the premises thoroughly after every show. Additional Municipal Commissioner Omprakash Divekar confirmed that discussions are underway to appoint dedicated cleaning contractors for each theatre.
During subsequent inspections, PMC officials found similar sanitation concerns in other auditoriums, despite recent renovations costing crores of rupees. The incident has reignited long-standing complaints from theatre artists and audiences about poor infrastructure and neglect at civic cultural venues.
The administration’s delayed response to repeated warnings about cleanliness has come under scrutiny. Now, with social media amplifying citizen voices, the PMC is under pressure to restore both the hygiene and dignity of Pune’s beloved theatre spaces.
