The Vande Bharat Express — India's flagship "world-class" train — served passengers live worms and insects in their dal and curd. IRCTC was fined ₹10 lakh, or roughly what a mid-level Zomato order costs in south Mumbai.
A passenger on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express discovered live worms and insects swimming enthusiastically in the curd and dal served during dinner on March 15. The viral video of the passenger confronting bewildered onboard staff has become the most honest review of Indian Railways catering since the invention of complaints. Indian Railways responded with theatrical outrage, slapping IRCTC with a ₹10 lakh fine and the service provider with ₹50 lakh, while terminating their contract — a punishment that sounds harsh until you remember the train ticket alone costs more than most Indian families spend on groceries in a week. Railway officials emphasized that "such lapses would not be tolerated," a statement so frequently recycled it should qualify for carbon credits. The Vande Bharat brand, positioned as India's answer to European high-speed rail, continues its tradition of delivering world-class speed with street-food-grade hygiene.