The reputation of the food services provided by the Indian Railways, particularly in its high-speed Vande Bharat Express trains, has been called into question following a disturbing incident. A passenger traveling from Rani Kamlapati to Jabalpur Junction on the Rewa Vande Bharat Express train was shocked to find a dead cockroach in his meal.
The incident came to light when the passenger shared his ordeal on social media, expressing his dismay at the discovery of the insect in his food. Vande Bharat Express trains are renowned for their luxurious services, top-notch safety standards, and high speed, making such an incident particularly alarming.
In response to the viral post, IRCTC issued an apology to the passenger for the inconvenience caused. They assured the passenger that the matter was being taken seriously, and a hefty penalty had been imposed on the concerned service provider. Additionally, monitoring measures at the source of food preparation were strengthened to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The passenger, Dr. Shubhendu Keshari, shared images of the non-vegetarian meal containing the dead cockroach, along with a photo of the complaint form he filled out at Jabalpur station to report the unhygienic condition of the food. This incident adds to a series of previous reports of unhygienic food served by IRCTC caterers, raising concerns among passengers about the quality and safety of onboard meals.
I was travelling on 1/02/2024 train no. 20173 RKMP to JBP (Vande Bharat Exp)
I was traumatized by seeing dead COCKROACH in the food packet given by them.@narendramodi @AshwiniVaishnaw @drmjabalpur @wc_railway @Central_Railway @RailMinIndia @IRCTCofficial @fssaiindia @MOFPI_GOI pic.twitter.com/YILLixgLzj— डाॅ. शुभेन्दु केशरी ⚕️👨⚕️ (@iamdrkeshari) February 2, 2024
Last year, another Vande Bharat Express passenger encountered a similar issue when they discovered a cockroach in the chapatti served with their meal. Such incidents not only pose health risks but also tarnish the reputation of IRCTC’s food services, making it challenging for them to regain passengers’ trust and confidence.
The discovery of a dead cockroach in a meal aboard the Vande Bharat Express underscores the importance of maintaining stringent hygiene standards in food preparation and handling. It serves as a wake-up call for Indian Railways and IRCTC to prioritize food safety measures and ensure that passengers are served meals of the highest quality and hygiene standards during their journeys.
