A shocking dining experience at the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation’s (IRCTC) VIP Executive Lounge has sparked outrage after a Delhi man discovered a live centipede in his food. Aaraynsh Singh took to social media platform X to express his disgust, sharing a disturbing photo of the centipede floating in his ‘raita’. His post has brought widespread attention to the food safety standards on Indian Railways.
Yes, for sure, Indian Railway food quality has improved, now they are serving raita with more protein. https://t.co/YKtUQt7roZ pic.twitter.com/FpJVIKOhBC
— Aaraynsh (@aaraynsh) October 21, 2024
Mr. Singh sarcastically captioned the post, “Yes, for sure, Indian Railway food quality has improved, now they are serving raita with more protein,” debunking claims of improved food quality on the railway service. He emphasized that if such an incident can occur in a VIP Executive Lounge, it raises serious concerns about food hygiene in regular trains and pantry cars.
People are crazy. I found a live insect in the food served at one of the IRCTC lounges. I stood up and told everyone to check their food, Everyone came to see it, got angry on administration about the unhygienic conditions, and then went back to eating the same food! 😭😭
— Aaraynsh (@aaraynsh) October 21, 2024
“This incident happened in one of the IRCTC VIP Executive Lounges, so you can imagine the quality in regular trains or pantry cars,” Mr. Singh stated, further recounting how he warned fellow passengers after discovering the centipede, only to be ignored by many—highlighting a worrying lack of concern for food safety.
IRCTC’s Response and Public Outrage
Following the viral post, IRCTC responded swiftly. Through its official X account, the corporation expressed regret for the inconvenience and requested Mr. Singh’s booking details to investigate the matter further. “Sir, inconvenience regretted. Kindly share receipt/booking details, station name along with mobile no for immediate action,” IRCTC wrote.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with internet users calling for urgent improvements in the food quality and hygiene standards across Indian Railways. Several users echoed Mr. Singh’s concerns, urging for stricter regulations and more accountability.
Public Reactions
One user commented, “No wonder parents always carried their own food & never had anything from the pantry,” while another highlighted broader hygiene issues, stating, “The main issue is passenger hygiene! Food waste is left on the floor! This is then washed with a water jet…attracts all kinds of pests!”
A third user warned of health risks, saying, “People need to be really careful while consuming their food or it can lead to severe health issues.” Others expressed disgust over the incident, with one remarking, “Oh god that’s so sick. I would have puked.”
The incident has reignited discussions around food safety protocols on Indian Railways, and many passengers are now calling for stricter enforcement of hygiene standards in trains and railway lounges.