Vande Bharat train passenger finds insect in sambhar, Railways issue clarification

A passenger travelling on the Vande Bharat Express from Tirunelveli to Chennai Egmore raised a complaint after discovering an insect in the sambar served during breakfast. The incident took place on Saturday, shortly after the train departed from Madurai.

Investigation and Apology

In response to the complaint, the Southern Railways issued an apology and promised strict action against the licensee responsible for the catering service. A team consisting of the Onboard Manager, Chief Catering Inspector (CIR), Chief Commercial Inspector (CCI), and Assistant Commercial Manager (ACM) promptly investigated the incident. They traced the source of the food to the Tirunelveli base kitchen operated by Brindavan Food Products.

Insect Found on Casserole Lid

According to officials, the insect was found stuck to the lid of the casserole container, which appeared uncooked. This suggests that the contamination occurred after the preparation of the food. Following the findings, the Railways assured the passenger that strict action would be taken against the catering licensee and offered an alternate meal at Dindigul station, which the passenger declined.

Further Investigation and Quality Assurance

The contaminated food packet was handed over to the Dindigul Health Inspector for quality inspection. Preliminary checks of other food containers revealed no anomalies. Additionally, the pantry area, where the food packets were distributed, was found to be clean with no evidence of insect activity.

A joint inspection was conducted by the Food Safety Officer, Health Inspector, and Chief Commercial Inspector from Tirunelveli at the base kitchen. Food samples were collected for further testing to investigate the source of contamination.

Penalty and Further Action

The Railways imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on Brindavan Food Products for negligence. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further action is being considered.

Assurance of Quality Food and Regular Inspections

Southern Railways has assured passengers that it is committed to providing quality food and conducting regular inspections to maintain high food standards. The Railways also encouraged passengers to register complaints through the Rail Madad system to ensure timely resolutions and follow-ups.

Inputs from ANI