A man’s train journey, which started on an exciting note, quickly took an unpleasant turn after he received his breakfast. To his shock, the sambar served to him contained a live insects. The incident, captured on video, went viral on the internet and thereby drew widespread attention. Prompted by the outcry, the railways swiftly responded to the viral video and took necessary actions.

Food safety concerns on Vande Bharat spark outrage

A passenger’s journey on the Vande Bharat Express from Tirunelveli to Chennai took a distressing turn when he found live insects in the sambar served with breakfast. The incident occurred on train number 20666 shortly after its departure from Madurai and was promptly reported by the passenger.

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A video showing black insects floating in the sambar quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism over the food quality and hygiene standards on one of India’s premium trains.

The matter gained further traction when Congress MP Manickam Tagore shared the video on social media, tagging Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Tagore raised serious questions about the accountability of IRCTC, which manages catering services on the train, and the overall hygiene standards on Vande Bharat trains.

While sharing the video he wrote,

“Dear @AshwiniVaishnaw ji ,live insects were found in the food served on the Tirunelveli-Chennai #VandeBharatExpress

Passengers have raised concerns over hygiene and IRCTC’s accountability.

What steps are being taken to address this and ensure food safety on premium trains?”

Have a look at it,

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Railways swiftly responds to the Food Contamination incident

Following the shocking discovery of insects in the sambar served on the Tirunelveli-Chennai Vande Bharat Express, the Railways acted swiftly to address the issue. Officials extended an apology to the affected passenger and pledged strict action against Brindavan Food Products, the licensee managing the base kitchen in Tirunelveli.

A thorough inspection of the food and the pantry revealed that the insect was likely introduced post-preparation, as it was found stuck to the lid of the casserole container. The contaminated food was sent for quality testing, and the passenger was offered an alternative meal, however, he declined it.

A joint inspection by food safety officials at the Tirunelveli base kitchen was conducted, and food samples were collected for further analysis. The Railways confirmed that the pantry area was clean and free from any signs of insect activity.

Railways also imposed a penalty of ₹50,000 on Brindavan Food Products

Apart from the aforementioned actions, the Railways also imposed a penalty of ₹50,000 on Brindavan Food Products for negligence. A detailed investigation is also underway to determine the exact source of the contamination and food samples have been sent for testing.

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The Railways assured passengers that regular inspections will be conducted to uphold food quality standards and encouraged them to register complaints through the Rail Madad system for timely resolution.

Have a look at it,

Regardless, of this tight action, Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticized the fine as insufficient, calling for stricter actions and reforms to ensure passenger safety and dignity.

Here is how netizens reacted to the Railways reply

Many netizens took to the comment section and responded to the Railways reply. Everyone showcased their disappointment in one way or the other. Have a look at some of them.

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What do you think about this incident? It is indeed not an isolated case, as there have been previous reports of food safety issues on Vande Bharat trains. Do share your thoughts via the comments below.

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Shivangi Kumar
Shivangi Kumar
An enthusiastic writer with a zeal for writing tales that would linger in the reader's mind—that's how you'd best describe Shivangi. With over 3 years of experience in content writing, it is safe to say that she possesses a skillful touch in crafting lucid content that is well researched and SEO-friendly. She's pursuing her post-graduation in History from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University. Thus, her interest lies in writing about historical narratives as well as contemporary happenings and, of course, Bollywood gossip.
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