Live Worms Found in Vande Bharat Meal; Railways Fines IRCTC ₹10 Lakh, Vendor ₹50 Lakh After Viral Video

A passenger aboard the Vande Bharat Express finds live worms in his meal, prompting Railways to fine IRCTC ₹10 lakh and the vendor ₹50 lakh after viral video.

Pune | 26 March, 2026: The Ministry of Railways has taken strict action after a passenger aboard the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 21896) discovered live worms in a packaged meal served during his journey on March 15, 2026, a video of which quickly went viral on social media platforms. In response, the ministry imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and a ₹50 lakh fine on the private catering vendor, whose contract has reportedly been terminated for failing to maintain expected food safety and quality standards onboard the premier train service.

The incident unfolded when passenger Ritesh Kumar Singh recorded his meal – reportedly a cup of packaged curd — containing visible insects and worms shortly after it was served during dinner. In the widely shared footage, the onboard catering crew initially attempted to dismiss the problem, claiming the foreign objects were strands of saffron, a response that only intensified public outrage and raised serious questions about hygiene protocols.

Reacting swiftly to the viral video, the Railway Ministry stated that the complaint had been taken seriously and that action was warranted to uphold “passenger safety and food quality.” Sources say the curd in question was supplied from Patna and carried a manufacturing date of March 9 2026 with an expiry of April 7 2026, leading officials to investigate whether storage or supply chain lapses contributed to contamination.

The penalties imposed highlight the government’s effort to strengthen accountability for onboard catering services on premium trains like the Vande Bharat Express- a flagship of Indian Railways known for its speed, comfort and modern amenities. While IRCTC manages food services on dozens of trains including Vande Bharat, this incident has sparked renewed scrutiny over hygiene and safety standards, prompting calls for more rigorous inspections, vendor audits and quality checks across all categories of onboard meals.

Public reaction to the episode has been swift, with many passengers using social media platforms to express shock and demand improved oversight. Some commentators have questioned whether penal action alone is enough, urging Indian Railways and IRCTC to implement stronger onboard monitoring systems and regular audits of food suppliers to prevent similar lapses in the future.

The Ministry’s move to fine both the caterer and IRCTC underscores a growing emphasis on passenger welfare. Officials have reiterated that safety and quality are non-negotiable, particularly on high-speed train services where expectations of service excellence are higher. Further investigations are underway to determine if similar issues exist on other routes and to evaluate broader improvements to catering quality checks and supply chain supervision.

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