The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been fined by the Ministry of Railways following a complaint from a passenger on a Vande Bharat Express. The passenger claimed the food quality was substandard and posted a video revealing worms in the curd provided during the trip.
The event was revealed when Ritesh Kumar Singh made a video soon after receiving his meal on the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express on March 15. In the video, he directed the camera at a bowl of curd, revealing visible worms. He condemned the food quality on the train and mentioned that he had already contacted the train manager to file a complaint.
In a different video, railway officials were observed approaching his seat to investigate the complaint. With the aid of a flashlight, they carefully inspected the curd as the passenger highlighted the presence of worms on the tray. The video also captured the remainder of the meal situated on the same tray.
The incident caught the attention of other passengers, many of whom gathered nearby during the inspection. Some requested that the authorities offer a complaint book, while others encouraged the passenger to share the video online to highlight the issue.
Following the viral spread of the videos and the ensuing backlash, the Ministry of Railways released a statement on X, indicating that the issue was being treated with seriousness.
The issue about food quality reported by a passenger on train number 21896 (Patna - Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express) on March 15, 2026, has been addressed with seriousness. Measures taken include a Rs 10 lakh fine on IRCTC, a Rs 50 lakh fine on the service provider, and a directive to end the contract. Ensuring passenger safety and quality is our utmost priority, according to the ministry.