A recent incident involving a Delhi man discovering a live centipede in his meal at an Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) lounge has once again sparked concerns over food safety in Indian Railways. The passenger, identified as Aaraynsh Singh, was dining at a VIP Executive Lounge operated by IRCTC when he made the alarming discovery—a live centipede floating in his bowl of raita. Singh took to social media to voice his concerns, sharing a picture of the contaminated meal and expressing his disgust.

Posting on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Singh sarcastically remarked on the purported improvement in food quality in Indian Railways. His post was a response to an earlier claim that the food served on trains had improved over the years. "Yes, for sure, Indian Railway food quality has improved, now they are serving raita with more protein," he wrote, alluding to the unwelcome centipede in his dish. Singh's post quickly gained attention, with many users expressing shock and disgust.

Singh elaborated further in follow-up posts, explaining that the incident occurred in one of IRCTC's VIP lounges, which are generally considered to provide better services compared to the food offerings on regular trains or in pantry cars. This fact, Singh argued, made the situation even more alarming. "This incident happened in one of the IRCTC VIP Executive Lounges, so you can imagine the quality in regular trains or pantry cars," he pointed out. The discovery of the centipede prompted him to warn other passengers at the lounge to avoid consuming the food, but his caution was met with indifference.

"People are crazy," Singh exclaimed in disbelief. "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 at the administration about the unhygienic conditions, and then went back to eating the same food!" Despite his warnings, many passengers chose to continue their meal, further intensifying his frustration.

The incident prompted a wave of criticism on social media, with many users calling out IRCTC for its lack of hygiene standards. Numerous individuals suggested that Singh should file a formal complaint to escalate the matter. Others expressed their own concerns about the state of food safety in Indian Railways, noting that such incidents were not isolated and that food hygiene issues have been a persistent problem for the rail service over the years.

In response to the uproar, an IRCTC spokesperson provided a statement to Hindustan Times, acknowledging the incident and noting that it had occurred the previous month. According to the spokesperson, once the issue was brought to the attention of IRCTC, swift action was taken to address it. "The incident is an old one, and the issue raised was promptly attended by the service staff at the unit," the spokesperson explained. They further assured that punitive measures had been imposed on the service provider responsible for the lounge's catering services, and a comprehensive inspection of the facility had been ordered. "Detailed and thorough inspection of the unit is being conducted, and corrective action is being taken to avoid a recurrence of such incidents in the future."

Additionally, IRCTC's official account on X responded directly to Singh's post, offering to investigate the matter further. "Sir, inconvenience regretted. Kindly share receipt/booking details, station name, along with mobile no for immediate action," the IRCTC response read.

Although the specific details of the measures taken by IRCTC were not immediately disclosed, their assurance of a thorough review did little to quell the anger and concern of social media users. Many argued that such incidents pointed to deeper, systemic issues with food safety management within Indian Railways. The discovery of a live insect in a meal served at a premium lounge, typically considered a safer and higher-quality option, only underscored the extent of the problem.

This incident is not the first time IRCTC has been embroiled in food safety controversies. In the past, passengers have raised complaints about stale, contaminated, or poorly prepared food served on trains and in railway lounges. While IRCTC has taken steps to improve its services over the years, including introducing stricter quality control measures and third-party inspections, incidents like these continue to undermine public confidence in the railway's catering services.

The broader conversation about food safety in Indian Railways is likely to continue as long as incidents like Singh's persist. Despite IRCTC's assurances, many passengers remain skeptical, wondering whether the necessary changes will be implemented to prevent future lapses in hygiene and food safety.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)