Vande Bharat meal row: IRCTC faces Rs 10 lakh fine, caterer Rs 50 lakh after worms found in Amul curd

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New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways has slapped a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on IRCTC and Rs 50 lakh on the service provider after a passenger complained of finding worms in Amul curd served on the Vande Bharat train.

The passenger travelling on board Vande Bharat Express from Patna to Tatanagar shared a video on social media showing insects found in a cup of Amul dahi served along with dinner on the premium train. In the video,  widely circulated on social media platforms, he alleged that worms were also found in the curd served to other passengers.

Reacting swiftly to his complaint, the Railways cancelled the contract of the company responsible for providing food on the train and also slapped a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the caterer. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has also been fined Rs 10 lakh.

The Ministry of Railways replied, “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 Rs 10 lakh, the service provider has been penalised with Rs 50 lakh, and ordered to terminate the contract. Passenger safety and quality remain our top priority.

An Indian Railways spokesperson said that the matter will not be taken lightly and that the quality of service remains their top focus, news agency ANI reported. The spokesperson said that strict rules are in place to maintain proper standards, especially on premium trains like the Vande Bharat Express, where passengers expect better service and hygiene.