Orange alert as rain leaves Gurugram waterlogged; disrupts traffic The Sector 52A market was among the most affected areas, with visuals showing commuters wading through knee-deep water Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:14:38 IST By Sampurna Panigrahi, Mihika Shah
‘Buy buy buy!’: Foreign tourist reacts to duty-free shopping after Delhi immigration A foreign tourist has posted a video of his Delhi airport experience, questioning the shopping pitches he encountered just after immigration. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
India security chief visits China for border talks India security chief visits China for border talks Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 14:06:38 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link India's top security official arrived in Beijing on Monday for talks on the countries' disputed Himalayan border
‘Jo bhi hai, tera ghar hai’: American compares Indian and US hospitality An American Hindi speaker’s take on Indian hospitality has viewers discussing the differences between socialising in India and the US. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:31:09 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share
Manipur: 1 CRPF personnel injured, 2 houses burnt by unknown armed individuals The gunfight broke out after two houses belonging to separate communities were set ablaze by an unidentified group of people Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:49:38 IST By Thomas Ngangom
Worms in Vande Bharat meal row: Indian Railways fines IRCTC ₹10L, vendor ₹50L
Live worms in Vande Bharat meal row: Indian Railways fines IRCTC ₹10 lakh, vendor ₹50 lakh
Live worms in Vande Bharat meal row: Indian Railways fines IRCTC ₹10 lakh, vendor ₹50 lakh
After a passenger found worms in curd on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat, Indian Railways imposed penalties on the vendor and IRCTC worth lakhs.
Published on: Mar 26, 2026 7:08 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link The Ministry of Indian Railways has initiated action against Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and the vendor of a Vande Bharat Express after a video of a passenger finding live worms in his food went viral. The video shows the passenger confronting the onboard staff, who initially try to dismiss it as “kesar” (saffron). A passenger found live worms in the dahi served on the Vande Bharat. (YouTube/Travel Skippers)What did the Ministry of Railways say?
The ministry shared that fines were imposed on both IRCTC and the vendor who provided the food. “The complaint regarding food quality raised by a passenger in train number 21896 (Patna - Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express) on 15 March 2026 has been taken seriously.” Also Read: Dentist mom's baby falls ill on train from Bengaluru, Railways arranges doctor at next station It added, “Action taken — IRCTC has been penalised ₹10 lakh, the service provider has been penalised with ₹50 lakh, and ordered to terminate the contract. Passenger safety and quality remain our top priority.” The video, which went viral and prompted the ministry to take action, shows a man telling a train attendant that there are live worms in his food. An X user shared the video with the caption: “Kalesh in Vande Bharat train over worms in served food. Attendant said 'Kesar hai.. kesar' for the insect leg found in the Dahi.” The video was initially shared on the YouTube channel Travel Skippers. According to the channel’s bio, it is managed by Ritesh Kumar Singh from Patna. He makes travel and lifestyle-related videos.What does the video show?
The passenger handed a cup of curd to the attendant, pointedly asking, “Can you see something in there?” The staff member denied seeing anything unusual and suggested the visible specks were merely "kesar" (saffron). This absurd claim sparked a wave of disbelief and laughter from the complainant and onlookers. Also Read: Vande Bharat passenger raises concern over rotis heated in plastic packets, IRCTC responds The passenger immediately held up his food tray, revealing that the insects had also spilt onto the rest of his meal. He asked what would happen if someone were to consume such contaminated food, highlighting the health risk. In response, the attendant noted that the curd arrived pre-packaged before checking the container's details. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the product was significantly out of date. The video ended with the passenger insisting that the attendant log the incident in the complaint book.Social media reacts:
An individual wrote, “But why do passengers always have to raise their voice? Can’t your team surprisingly check food samples from any random train? Kindly share previous data publicly that so and so trains, food samples have been collected, etc.” Another added, “These kinds of stale and low-quality meals happen on a daily basis in many trains. The fine money should partly go to affected passengers as a refund or compensation.” A third expressed, “Such immediate action is appreciated ! These special trains like Vande Bharat etc are a National Pride, hence there must be 0 tolerance in letter & spirit when it comes to providing the high standards of service.” A fourth commented, “ ₹60 lakh for a cup of wormy curd. The Railways finally stopped playing around with passenger health.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Trisha Sengupta Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More indian Railways Irctc Vande Bharat Express Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral News, Video, Photos and Weather Updates of India and around the world News / Trending / Live Worms In Vande Bharat Meal Row: Indian Railways Fines IRCTC ₹10 Lakh, Vendor ₹50 Lakh See LessThe Ministry of Indian Railways has initiated action against Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and the vendor of a Vande Bharat Express after a video of a passenger finding live worms in his food went viral. The video shows the passenger confronting the onboard staff, who initially try to dismiss it as “kesar” (saffron).
Also Read: Dentist mom's baby falls ill on train from Bengaluru, Railways arranges doctor at next station
It added, “Action taken — IRCTC has been penalised ₹10 lakh, the service provider has been penalised with ₹50 lakh, and ordered to terminate the contract. Passenger safety and quality remain our top priority.”
The video, which went viral and prompted the ministry to take action, shows a man telling a train attendant that there are live worms in his food. An X user shared the video with the caption: “Kalesh in Vande Bharat train over worms in served food. Attendant said 'Kesar hai.. kesar' for the insect leg found in the Dahi.”
The video was initially shared on the YouTube channel Travel Skippers. According to the channel’s bio, it is managed by Ritesh Kumar Singh from Patna. He makes travel and lifestyle-related videos.
Also Read: Vande Bharat passenger raises concern over rotis heated in plastic packets, IRCTC responds
The passenger immediately held up his food tray, revealing that the insects had also spilt onto the rest of his meal. He asked what would happen if someone were to consume such contaminated food, highlighting the health risk.
In response, the attendant noted that the curd arrived pre-packaged before checking the container's details. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the product was significantly out of date. The video ended with the passenger insisting that the attendant log the incident in the complaint book.
A third expressed, “Such immediate action is appreciated ! These special trains like Vande Bharat etc are a National Pride, hence there must be 0 tolerance in letter & spirit when it comes to providing the high standards of service.” A fourth commented, “ ₹60 lakh for a cup of wormy curd. The Railways finally stopped playing around with passenger health.”
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Vande Bharat,Indian Railways,IRCTC,Indian Railways fines IRCTC
No need to panic over H1N1 surge in K'taka: Minister Khader No need to panic over H1N1 surge in K'taka: Minister Khader Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:51:09 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Bengaluru, Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader on Monday assured the public that there was no
8 hours ago
‘You endorse misogyny, cut the crap’: Shehzad Poonawalla joins BJP attack on Rahul Gandhi's ‘smash patriarchy’ call Shehzad Poonawalla and BJP were responding to Rahul Gandhi's call to "smash the patriarchy" during his party's 'Chhatro ki Goonj' programme in Pune. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
For Delhi-NCR residents, Guleria struck a reassuring note while explaining why this year’s wave has felt worse, but citizens need not panic The H1N1 virus driving Delhi-NCR’s current flu surge appears to be changing its structure — a process that is making it spread faster and slip past the
11 hours ago
A job applicant’s unusual rejection from a software engineering internship has left the internet divided after the candidate was reportedly turned down over the name of their resume file. The incident was highlighted in a now-viral post on X by user @adnaannasir_
11 hours ago
Elderly woman killed, husband injured in SUV hit-and-run at Delhi's posh GK-1 The woman, identified as Shashi, was declared brought dead at the hospital, while her husband Kulbhushan (65), was left injured. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 11:00:26 IST By HT News Desk Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
11 hours ago
Woman reflects on high-rise living in big cities: ‘Even the slice of the sky is fixed for us’ A woman shared her thoughts on high-rise life, saying big-city living can feel confined despite better work opportunities. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
Governor Abdullah Sarhadi gives money to treat a boy's broken arm and hands out funds for a local mosque - then, in his office in northern Afghanistan, an astonishing exchange unfolds. A young woman tells the grey-bearded former Taliban commander that she wants to divorce her husband
11 hours ago
Andy Burnham is marking his first foreign visit as prime minister with a trip to Kyiv - and will hand over blueprints so Ukraine can build its own long-range missiles. The prime minister will chair his first meeting of the "coalition of the willing"
11 hours ago
Apple’s next iPhone launch is getting closer, and the company’s usual September schedule is beginning to take shape. According to a recent Forbes report, Apple could hold its special event on Wednesday, September 9, where it is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
11 hours ago
Fugitive gangster Goldy Brar has, in an audio clip, purportedly claimed responsibility for the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, The Indian Express reported. The newspaper said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio clip
11 hours ago
Dad crashes daughter’s late-night work meeting over parcels: ‘Ek paise ki saving nahi karti’ A father’s surprise appearance during his daughter’s work call turns into a lecture on spending and saving. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 10:56:44 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via
11 hours ago
A Zimbabwean content creator’s tongue-in-cheek take on life in India has caught the attention of social media users after he shared 10 everyday conveniences that have completely changed his standard of living. From paying for almost everything with just a phone to having food
11 hours ago
Starting September 1, passengers traveling internationally will be required to use an e-boarding pass on their smartphones for immigration clearance, as announced by immigration authorities. This significant change comes as the Bureau of Immigration (BOI)
14 hours ago
The September 2026 US Visa Bulletin brings a mixed picture for Indian green card applicants. While some family-sponsored categories have moved forward, several employment-based categories remain severely constrained, with two India-specific categories listed as unavailable and the State Department
14 hours ago
The Maharashtra Transport Department has issued notices to 777 drivers for lacking practical knowledge of Marathi, The Hindu quoted unidentified officials as saying on Saturday. A total of 5,211 drivers were tested during a statewide inspection campaign that began on August 20, including 3
14 hours ago
19-year-old killed, friend injured after truck hits motorcycle on Delhi's Indraprastha flyover A police team reached the spot and found a motorcycle lying in a damaged condition and two people seriously injured. One of them died in the hospital. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Indian woman reveals why her family returned to India after 13 years in US: ‘You don’t really belong here’ A woman shared five reasons her family decided to leave the US and return to India after 13 years. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:43:56 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon Google
14 hours ago
New UK PM Andy Burnham to make visit to Kyiv on Monday: office New UK PM Andy Burnham to make visit to Kyiv on Monday: office Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:41:28 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Kyiv on Monday on his first international
14 hours ago
Bengaluru vs Gurgaon? Man who lived in both cities explains why the comparison is ‘completely pointless’ A man said the Bengaluru versus Gurgaon debate was pointless and urged people to live in both cities before deciding. Published on: Aug 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Circle Wealth CIO and Managing Partner Chadha said the market was rewarding companies with strong earnings and improving outlooks, even as large-cap stocks remained under pressure. Diwali season is expected to bring a fresh boost for Indian equities following strong corporate earnings
14 hours ago
The restriction was imposed under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which governs the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs and cosmetics. The central government on Saturday restricted the manufacturing, sale and distribution of all fixed-dose combinations (FDCs)
14 hours ago
Ukraine backers gather as war escalates, air defence runs low Ukraine backers gather as war escalates, air defence runs low Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:41:29 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Ukraine on Monday hosts a meeting of its key European backers to press for critical
14 hours ago
'Trouble proving citizenship after representing India in 3 countries': Ex-envoy to ECI over Punjab SIR Suri served as India’s ambassador to the UAE and Egypt and high commissioner to Australia. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:34:33 IST By HT Correspondent Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
14 hours ago
2 killed after illegal building in Hyderabad's Gachibowli caves in Officials alleged that the building was built over or adjacent to a drain without the required permissions. Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:41:02 IST By Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link At least two
1 days ago
J'khand: Compensation of ₹31 lakh each given to families of 3 engineers burnt alive at steel plant J'khand: Compensation of ₹31 lakh each given to families of 3 engineers burnt alive at steel plant Published on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:43:04 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Ramgarh
1 days ago
Jaiñtia Hills to the G7: Can Meghalaya turn ‘Lakadong’ into a global brand? The high-curcumin turmeric has gone from an obscure hill crop to a GI-tagged premium product showcased before world leaders. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026, 14:48:20 IST By David Laitphlang
1 days ago
Ex-NRI shares why she takes auto for 1 km ride to gym after moving to India: 'Life here is a compromise' The woman shared that she has to walk through an area where "everybody stares", while the pathway is "ubad-khabad", dirty and encroached. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
