Vande Bharat Passenger Discovers Live Worms in Packaged Curd; Vendor Fined, Contract Cancelled

New Delhi, Mar 26: The Railway Ministry has terminated the contract of Krishna Enterprises and imposed a fine of ₹50 lakh after a passenger discovered live worms in a packaged curd served on board the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express. In addition, the ministry levied a ₹10 lakh fine on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for failing to handle the incident properly.

The incident occurred on March 15, when a group of seven passengers were served packaged curd along with dinner. Passenger Ritesh Singh flagged the issue on social media, prompting a swift investigation by IRCTC. The curd packet, sourced from Patna, had a manufacturing date of March 9, 2026, and an expiry date of April 7, 2026.

IRCTC’s initial report fined Krishna Enterprises ₹25,000 and issued a warning for negligence in food handling, instructing the vendor to maintain proper cold chain protocols and adhere to food safety standards. Dissatisfied with this response, the Railway Ministry stepped in to impose stricter penalties, terminating the contract and raising the fine to ₹50 lakh.

The ministry emphasized the importance of passenger safety and hygiene, directing IRCTC to enforce strict monitoring of onboard catering services to prevent similar incidents in the future. Supervisors have been instructed to prioritise food quality, safety, and hygiene at all times.

The Ministry confirmed the action on its official X handle, stating, “Passenger safety and quality remain our top priority. IRCTC has been penalised ₹10 lakh, the service provider ₹50 lakh, and the vendor contract has been terminated following the complaint raised on March 15, 2026.”