The Ministry of Railways has imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on IRCTC and a ₹50 lakh fine on the private service provider following a serious food quality complaint on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 21896). The ministry has also ordered IRCTC to terminate the contract with the vendor after live worms were found in food supplied the vendor.
The action was announced today by the Ministry on X, saying that the complaint regarding food quality raised by a passenger in train number 21896 (Patna – Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express) on 15 March 2026 has been taken seriously.
The complaint regarding food quality raised by a passenger in train number 21896 (Patna – Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express) on 15 March 2026 has been taken seriously. Action taken — IRCTC has been penalised ₹10 lakh, the service provider has been penalised with ₹50 lakh, and…
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) March 25, 2026
The action was taken based on a complaint of worm found in food served on Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat on 15 March 2026 date. Passenger Ritesh Kumar Singh had filed the complaint stating that live worms and insects were found in the Amul Dahi (curd) and daal served as part of the dinner meal.
Live worms and insects were found in the Amul Dahi that was served to passanger on board 21896 Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat on March 15. In a landmark decision, Railways has penalized IRCTC with ₹10 lakh and the service provider with ₹50 lakh. pic.twitter.com/zrAae3Wgay
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) March 25, 2026
A video of the incident had viral on social media, where the passenger was seen confronting railway staff after discovering insects in the dahi cup. In the clip, the attendant initially dismisses the worm by saying that it was kesar (saffron). But later the staff concedes after Singh showed him moving worms on the curd cup and on the food plate. Singh stated that while he had not consumed the food, his co-passenger had already eaten the curd before noticing the worms in it.
An angry Ritesh Kumar Singh is heard saying on camera, “Look at this, we are paying money to eat poison.” When the staff said that he will file a complaint, Singh asks who would be responsible in case of food poisoning and when the complaint would be filed — “after we die from eating it?”
Serious concerns raised again over food quality in Vande Bharat Express.
— The Nalanda Index (@Nalanda_index) March 25, 2026
A passenger found a worm in curd, but the attendant shamelessly tried to pass it off as “saffron.” The truth came out when the worm was seen moving on the plate video now viral.
After the outrage, Indian… pic.twitter.com/gnCJ4EUXSW
The staff members advised the passenger to post the incident on Twitter tagging the relevant Railway accounts.
The case has once again spotlighted recurring complaints about substandard and unhygienic food on trains of Indian Railways, including premium Vande Bharat trains. IRCTC has stated that it has taken the matter seriously and has issued strict instructions on hygiene and safety to the service provider.
