30-sec summary

The Indian Railways, known for its vast network and diverse passenger experiences. Millions of passengers use to travel, though it is either for a long journey trip or local with their own journey, story, and expectations. Sometimes, these journeys lead to unexpected encounters, which reveal where systems lack and demand attention and improvement.

A Tweet That Started It All

Imagine sitting down to enjoy a meal during your train journey, and you found something creepy in your food. This is exactly what happened to Subodh Pahalajan, a passenger traveling on the Vande Bharat Express from Bhopal to Gwalior. Subodh took to Twitter to share his shocking experience with the world. He tweeted a picture of his meal, which had an unwanted addition – a cockroach! He tagged the official Twitter handle of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and wrote, "@IRCTCofficial found a cockroach in my food, in the Vande Bharat train." His tweet quickly gained attention and when it went too viral, The Indian Railways responded to Subodh's complaint. Railway Seva, the official Twitter handle for railway-related grievances, issued an apology to Subodh for the unpleasant experience. They assured him and the public that the necessary actions would be taken to address the issue and prevent such incidents from occurring again in the future.
The Divisional Railway Manager of Bhopal, not wanting to take the matter lightly, also joined the conversation on Twitter. He confirmed that immediate steps were taken to address the situation. The IRCTC promptly organized alternative food for the affected passenger and took punitive measures against the licensee.
The Vande Bharat Express, considered as a premium travel service cockroach in its meal, has raised valid concerns about the quality of food provided on Indian trains. The question remains the same: who should bear the ultimate responsibility for such incidents? Is it solely the catering service provider who prepared and served the meal, or does the railway administration also share a part of the blame for granting licenses to these service providers? Can strict actions alone guarantee that such incidents won't be repeated in the future?
As we continue to travel and rely on the railway system for our journeys, it's essential that these incidents serve as turning points for positive change. Ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of passengers should be a top priority, and incidents like these need improvements.