Vande Bharat express scandal: IRCTC, caterer slapped with ₹60 lakh fine after worms found in curd

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Indian Railway Ministry has taken major action regarding the quality of food served on the Vande Bharat Express. Following complaints of worms found in yogurt, the ministry has imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh on IRCTC and ₹50 lakh on the catering company involved.

The matter came to light after a passenger traveling on the Vande Bharat train from Patna to Tatanagar shared a video on social media. The video showed worms in the yogurt served with dinner. The passenger also claimed that other passengers had similar problems with the yogurt served.

Immediate action, contract cancellation:

Upon receiving the complaint, Indian Railways immediately initiated an investigation and, taking action, cancelled the contract of the concerned catering company. It was also fined ₹50 lakh. Meanwhile, IRCTC was penalized ₹10 lakh for lack of oversight of the catering service.

Ministry statement:

The Railway Ministry said in its official statement that the complaint received on March 15, 2026, regarding Train No. 21896 (Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express) has been taken very seriously. There will be no compromise on passenger safety and the quality of food.

"Negligence will not be tolerated on premium trains"

A railway spokesperson clarified that maintaining high quality and cleanliness is essential on premium trains like the Vande Bharat. Providing superior passenger facilities is a priority, and strict action will continue to be taken against any negligence. Following this incident, the railways have indicated that monitoring of food quality on trains will be even more stringent in the future to maintain passenger confidence.