Vande Bharat passenger finds insects in food, Railways slaps Rs 50,000 fine on caterer

A Vande Bharat passenger found insects floating in food served during the journey. Reacting to the matter, the Railways fined the caterer Rs 50,000.

In Short

• A passenger found insects in sambhar served on a Vande Bharat train
• Railways has fined caterer Rs 50,000 after investigation
• Congress MP questioned the hygiene standards on trains

A Vande Bharat train journey turned unpleasant for a passenger when he found insects in the sambhar served during the trip.

The incident occurred on the Tirunelveli to Chennai route and quickly sparked outrage after visuals of the contaminated meal were shared on social media.

The video showed black insects floating in the sambhar, leaving several users appalled at the food quality of the premium service.

Watch the video here:

The situation escalated when Congress MP Manickam Tagore shared the video and questioned the hygiene standards on Vande Bharat trains.

“Dear @AshwiniVaishnaw ji, live insects were found in the food served on the Tirunelveli-Chennai Vande Bharat Express 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?”

Take a look at the post here:

Railways fines caterer Rs 50,000:

The Railways issued a statement on the matter. It said that an “immediate investigation was conducted.” The food package was examined by a health inspector at the Dindihul station.

According to their findings, the insect was allegedly stuck to the lid of the aluminum container rather than being inside the sambhar itself.

As a result, the Railways imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the catering service provider.

“Food samples were collected and sent for testing to ascertain the cause of the contamination. For this negligence, a penalty of Rs. 50,000 has been imposed on the contractor Ms Brindavan Food products, and further action is being pursued,” the Railways said.

It said: “The Railway is conducting a detailed investigation into the incident, considering all possibilities regarding the source of the contamination.”

Take a look at the post here:

Notably, this is not the first time Vande Bharat trains have faced food safety issues. Just a few months ago, another passenger reported finding a cockroach in his meal.

Vande Bharat trains, part of the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, are known for their high speed, enhanced safety standards, and superior service.

(With inputs from Pramod)