Passenger's Allegation
Ayushi Singh, a passenger on the Varanasi–Deoghar Vande Bharat Express on March 27, 2026, has come forward with a concerning account of her experience.
Shortly after consuming the lunch served on the train, she began to exhibit alarming symptoms, including significant facial swelling. She shared photographic evidence of her condition on social media platform X, accompanied by a plea for Indian Railways to investigate the matter. Singh emphasized the gravity of her reaction, stating that a medical professional had warned her that the situation could have been life-threatening if not addressed promptly. Adding to her distress, she also noted that the water served on the train tasted unusual, further fueling her suspicion about the meal's quality and safety. Her two-year-old son also reportedly suffered from diarrhoea following the meal, intensifying her concerns about the onboard catering.
Official Response and Passenger's Insistence
In response to Ayushi Singh's public complaint, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) issued a statement via their official X account. They indicated that the food served on that particular journey had been reviewed and was found to be satisfactory. IRCTC also stated that no other complaints regarding the quality, hygiene, or safety of food served on that day had been received. Undeterred, Singh maintained her assertion that the food provided on the train was the sole cause of her and her son's ailments. She pointed out that as their train journey commenced early in the morning, they had not consumed breakfast at home, making the Vande Bharat meal their only intake before falling ill. Despite the lack of other reported issues, she expressed her frustration that her experience, along with her son's, was being seemingly dismissed. Following her continued insistence, IRCTC then requested Singh to share her PNR number and contact details via direct message to facilitate a more thorough investigation into the incident.
Community Reaction and Recovery
Ayushi Singh's account quickly garnered significant attention and concern from other users on the platform. The public response underscored the importance of food safety and passenger well-being. When enquired about her current condition, Singh provided an update stating that she was in the process of recovering. She confirmed that the swelling had completely subsided, although she was still undergoing medication. Other users expressed sympathy and offered words of encouragement, urging her to prioritize her health and well-being. The incident sparked conversations about the standards of catering on Indian trains and the procedures for addressing passenger grievances, emphasizing the need for robust quality control and prompt, empathetic responses to such serious allegations.
