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A Vande Bharat Express journey on the Tirunelveli-Chennai route turned nasty for a passenger after he found insects in his sambhar meal. The unwanted discovery went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage.
Alongside filing a complaint with IRCTC, he shared visuals of the contaminated food on his social media account. The video showed black insects floating in the sambhar, leaving netizens horrified at the compromised food quality in Vande Bharat trains. They raised serious concerns about the train's catering standards.
This disturbing find caught the attention of Congress MP Manickam Tagore, who subsequently raised concerns about food safety on premium trains.
“Dear Ashwini Vaishnaw ji, live insects were found in the food served on the Tirunelveli-Chennai Vande Bharat Express. Passengers have raised concerns over hygiene and IRCTC’s accountability. What steps are being taken to address this and ensure food safety on premium trains?" Tagore wrote on X.
Following significant traction on social media, the incident received swift action from Southern Railways. The Railways issued a statement regarding the contaminated food on X, writing, "For this negligence, a penalty of Rs 50,000 has been imposed on the contractor MS Brindavan Food products, and further action is being pursued. The Railways is conducting a detailed investigation into the incident, considering all possibilities regarding the source of contamination".
The Railways assured of commitment to ensuring food quality, conducting regular inspections, and prompt handling of passenger complaints. "The Railways remain committed to ensuring the quality of food provided to passengers, with regular inspections conducted on trains to monitor food standards. Passenger complaints are handled promptly through the Rail Madad system, ensuring timely resolution and follow-up," it added.
Reportedly, a team investigated the matter and traced the source of the food to the Tirunelveli base kitchen, which is operated by Brindavan Food Products. The insect was stuck on the lid of the casserole container, which indicates that contamination occurred after food preparation. As per the inspections, the pantry area where food was distributed was found clean, with no insects.
ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE: Complaints related to food quality puts railways in top gear
This was not the first time Vande Bharat trains have faced food safety concerns. Another passenger reported finding a cockroach in his meal a few months ago.
Alongside filing a complaint with IRCTC, he shared visuals of the contaminated food on his social media account. The video showed black insects floating in the sambhar, leaving netizens horrified at the compromised food quality in Vande Bharat trains. They raised serious concerns about the train's catering standards.
This disturbing find caught the attention of Congress MP Manickam Tagore, who subsequently raised concerns about food safety on premium trains.
“Dear Ashwini Vaishnaw ji, live insects were found in the food served on the Tirunelveli-Chennai Vande Bharat Express. Passengers have raised concerns over hygiene and IRCTC’s accountability. What steps are being taken to address this and ensure food safety on premium trains?" Tagore wrote on X.
Following significant traction on social media, the incident received swift action from Southern Railways. The Railways issued a statement regarding the contaminated food on X, writing, "For this negligence, a penalty of Rs 50,000 has been imposed on the contractor MS Brindavan Food products, and further action is being pursued. The Railways is conducting a detailed investigation into the incident, considering all possibilities regarding the source of contamination".
The Railways assured of commitment to ensuring food quality, conducting regular inspections, and prompt handling of passenger complaints. "The Railways remain committed to ensuring the quality of food provided to passengers, with regular inspections conducted on trains to monitor food standards. Passenger complaints are handled promptly through the Rail Madad system, ensuring timely resolution and follow-up," it added.
Reportedly, a team investigated the matter and traced the source of the food to the Tirunelveli base kitchen, which is operated by Brindavan Food Products. The insect was stuck on the lid of the casserole container, which indicates that contamination occurred after food preparation. As per the inspections, the pantry area where food was distributed was found clean, with no insects.
ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE: Complaints related to food quality puts railways in top gear
This was not the first time Vande Bharat trains have faced food safety concerns. Another passenger reported finding a cockroach in his meal a few months ago.
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
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