On August 19, passengers on the Vande Bharat Express, travelling from Shirdi to Mumbai, were shocked to find a live cockroach in their meal. The disturbing discovery was made in a serving of dal. This incident has raised serious concerns about the quality of food provided on Indian Railways.
Live Cockroach Found In Vande Bharat Express Meal
Today on 18-06-24 my Uncle and Aunt were travelling from Bhopal to Agra in Vande Bharat.
They got “COCKROACH” in their food from @IRCTCofficial. Please take strict action against the vendor and make sure this would not happen again @RailMinIndia @ AshwiniVaishnaw @RailwaySe pic.twitter.com/Gicaw99I17— Vidit Varshney (@ViditVarshney1) June 18, 2024
The passengers were not only appalled by the live insect in the dal but also reported finding dead cockroaches in other items. The poor quality of food was a significant issue, adding to the distress of the travellers.
One couple, deeply affected by the incident, has taken action. They have reached out to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to demand accountability from the e-Catering partner responsible.
@RailMinIndia Cockroach found in the daal served in Vande Bharat train. pic.twitter.com/rjCJU8NnRc
— Atul Jp (@JaitpalAtul) August 20, 2024
Vidit Varshney, who reported another similar case, shared a photograph of a dead cockroach floating in curry. He posted the image on social media, calling for stringent action against the vendor. His message stated, “Today on 18-06-24 my Uncle and Aunt were travelling from Bhopal to Agra in Vande Bharat. They got ‘COCKROACH’ in their food from IRCTC. Please take strict action against the vendor and make sure this would not happen again.”
IRCTC Responds To Complaint
Sir, We apologize for the travel experience you had.The matter has been viewed seriously and suitable penalty has been imposed on concerned service provider. We have also intensified the production and logistics monitoring.
— IRCTC (@IRCTCofficial) June 20, 2024
The IRCTC responded to Varshney’s complaint by acknowledging the issue and outlining their response. The IRCTC responded by apologising for the poor travel experience. They assured that they were taking the matter seriously and had imposed a suitable penalty on the responsible service provider. They also mentioned that they had intensified monitoring of production and logistics. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen.
The recent incidents have led to a wave of criticism about the standards of cleanliness and food quality on Indian trains. Passengers expect a certain level of hygiene and safety, and these events have highlighted a significant lapse in meeting those expectations.
The complaints from passengers and the subsequent responses from IRCTC underscore the need for rigorous checks and improvements in food safety. As the situation develops, travellers will be hoping for more reliable and hygienic food services on their journeys.
Cover Image Courtesy: @ViditVarshney1,@JaitpalAtul/X (Formerly, Twitter)
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