New Delhi : The Ministry of Railways has penalised the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) after a passenger aboard a Vande Bharat Express alleged poor food quality and shared a video. The incident came to light after Ritesh Kumar Singh recorded a video shortly after being served his meal on the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express on March 15.
He panned the camera towards a bowl of curd, where worms were clearly visible. He criticised the quality of food on board and said he had already called the train manager to lodge a complaint. In another video, railway authorities were seen arriving at his seat to inspect the complaint. Using a torch, officials closely examined the curd while the passenger pointed out worms moving on the tray.
The situation drew attention from fellow passengers, several of whom gathered around during the inspection. While some demanded that authorities provide a complaint book, others urged the passenger to post the video online to amplify the issue. The complaint regarding food quality raised by a passenger in train number 21896 (Patna – Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express) on March 15, 2026 has been taken seriously.
Action taken — IRCTC has been penalised Rs 10 lakh, the service provider has been penalised with Rs 50 lakh, and ordered to terminate the contract. Passenger safety and quality remain our top priority,” the ministry said.
