New Delhi – In a major crackdown on deteriorating catering standards, the Indian Railways and IRCTC have imposed a cumulative fine of ₹60 lakh following a horrifying discovery by passengers on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 21896). The incident, which took place on March 15, 2026, involved live worms found in yogurt cups labeled as “Saffron Curd,” sparking a massive confrontation between passengers and onboard staff.
The Confrontation: “Kesar Hai” Claim Triggers Outrage
The issue came to light when a passenger named Mitesh, traveling in coach C6 (Seat 70), filmed a video of small white creatures—identified as maggots—crawling inside the sealed yogurt cups and on the serving plates. When the passengers confronted the catering staff, the situation took a bizarre turn.
According to viral social media footage, an onboard attendant initially tried to downplay the infestation by claiming the visible insect legs and moving organisms were actually “Kesar” (Saffron) strands. This explanation was met with immediate anger from the travelers. Another passenger, identified as Kapil (@kapsology), also shared visuals of the contaminated food, noting that at least two cups had active maggots and one passenger had already consumed a portion before noticing the movement.
Expired Food Allegations: 11-Day Old Curd Served?
Beyond the infestation, passengers pointed out a serious lapse in food safety regarding the “Use By” dates. The packaging on the yogurt cups showed a manufacturing date of March 4 or March 6. Since the meal was served on March 15, passengers argued that the food was 9 to 11 days old.
When questioned, the staff reportedly claimed that the date mentioned was only the manufacturing date and not the expiry, urging the passengers to “taste it first” to check if it was bad. Passengers refused, citing extreme health risks. “How can they serve 11-day-old dairy products on a premium train like Vande Bharat? This is a clear case of playing with people’s lives,” one traveler was heard saying in the video.
IRCTC and Ministry of Railways Take “Zero-Tolerance” Action
Following the viral outrage and a formal complaint via the Rail Madad portal, the Ministry of Railways took swift and “punitive” action.
- Fine on IRCTC: The Ministry imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on IRCTC for oversight failure.
- Fine on Service Provider: The private catering vendor responsible for the Patna-Tatanagar route was slapped with a ₹50 lakh fine.
- Contract Termination: IRCTC has been directed to terminate the contract of the concerned service provider immediately.
- Vendor Identification: Reports indicate the curd was supplied under the brand Amul, but the negligence was attributed to the handling and storage by the onboard catering licensee.
A railway spokesperson stated, “Passenger safety and food quality are our top priorities. We have a zero-tolerance policy toward such lapses. The contract of the service provider has been terminated, and strict instructions have been issued to all zones to conduct surprise hygiene audits.”
Persistent Food Quality Issues on Premium Trains
This incident is not an isolated case. In recent months, Vande Bharat trains across India have faced multiple complaints:
- February 2026: A passenger on the Prayagraj-Delhi route flagged that rotis were being heated inside plastic packets in microwaves, raising chemical leaching concerns.
- November 2024: A passenger found a cockroach in the sambar on the Tirunelveli-Chennai Vande Bharat.
- July 2025: Visuals of a dead insect in dal went viral on the New Delhi route.
Why Food Quality Matters on Vande Bharat Trains
Vande Bharat trains are a pride of Indian Railways. They run at speeds up to 160 km per hour and offer modern facilities like Wi-Fi, comfortable seats and clean coaches. Thousands of people choose these trains every day for faster and safer travel. Food is an important part of the journey. Passengers expect fresh, hot and safe meals.
IRCTC is the official caterer. It works with many private vendors across routes. The corporation has rules for food safety based on FSSAI standards. Meals must be prepared in clean kitchens, packed properly and checked before loading on the train. Curd and yogurt are sensitive items because they can spoil quickly if not stored at the right temperature.
This incident is not the first of its kind. In the past few years, passengers have reported finding insects in dal, cockroaches in meals and even fungus in curd on different Vande Bharat routes. Each time, IRCTC has apologised and taken action against the vendor. But the problem keeps coming back. Many experts say that better training, regular surprise checks and stricter penalties are needed.
Social media users pointed out that passengers pay two to three times more for Vande Bharat tickets compared to regular trains. They expect better standards. One comment read, “We pay premium price for premium journey and get worm biryani with kesar-flavored insect legs in curd?” Another wrote, “Disgusting! The actual problem is that our lowest working class isn’t educated about hygiene.”
Passenger Reactions and Wider Concerns
The video by Mitesh and the post by Kapil sparked huge debate online. Many called for FSSAI to step in and check all Amul dahi supplies to trains. Some asked why Amul brand curd was involved and whether the company should also answer.
Passengers who travel often shared similar stories. One person wrote, “This is why I carry my own food on long journeys.” Another said, “My family travelled last month and the curd smelled bad. We threw it away.”
Health experts say that eating food with maggots can cause stomach pain, vomiting or infections. Although no one has reported falling ill yet from this incident, the fear is real. The passenger who ate the half cup has not come forward with any update, but doctors advise anyone who feels unwell after such meals to see a doctor immediately.
The Ministry of Railways has asked all zonal railways to keep a close watch on catering services. They want onboard supervisors to check every batch of food before serving.
What This Means for Future Travel
This case shows that social media can bring quick action. Within hours of the video going viral, fines were announced and a contract was cancelled. It proves that passenger voices matter.
IRCTC has promised better quality control. It may now introduce more CCTV in pantry cars or digital tracking of food batches. Vendors will have to submit daily hygiene reports.
For common Indians who travel by train, food safety is a basic need. Vande Bharat is supposed to set new standards. Incidents like this hurt the image of the train and the railways as a whole.
The railways have started many new Vande Bharat routes in the last few years. More are planned. To win back full trust, they must make sure that every meal served is safe and fresh.
As of now, the terminated vendor cannot supply food to any train. IRCTC will appoint a new service provider after fresh checks. Passengers on the Patna-Tatanagar route and other trains can expect tighter controls in the coming days.
This incident once again reminds everyone – from staff to top officials – that there is no shortcut when it comes to food safety. Passengers have the right to question and demand better service. The railways have shown they will act when complaints go public.
The full video of the confrontation is still circulating on X and Instagram. It serves as proof of what happened and a call for change. Mitesh’s decision to film it has helped bring the truth out and forced quick action from the highest levels.
Indian travellers hope that this strong response becomes the start of real improvement. Only time and future journeys will tell if the lessons from this curd-and-maggot episode have been truly learned.
Experts suggest that while the “Make in India” trains are world-class in speed and design, the “base kitchen” model and third-party catering contracts need a complete overhaul to match the premium image of the service.
FAQs
Q1: What exactly happened on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express?
On March 15, 2026, passengers found live worms (maggots) in the curd served onboard. The staff initially claimed the worms were saffron (kesar), leading to a heated argument.
Q2: Was the food served past its expiry date?
Passengers alleged the curd was manufactured on March 4/6 and served on March 15. While the staff claimed it wasn’t expired, dairy products usually have a very short shelf life, and 11 days is considered highly unsafe for fresh curd.
Q3: What action has the government taken?
The Railway Ministry fined IRCTC ₹10 lakh and the catering vendor ₹50 lakh. The vendor’s contract has also been cancelled.
Q4: How can I complain about bad food in Vande Bharat?
Passengers should use the Rail Madad app, call the helpline 139, or tweet to @RailwaySeva and @IRCTCofficial with their PNR and photos.