Ranchi/New Delhi, April 1, 2026: A social media post by Ranchi resident Ayushi Singh has triggered fresh concerns over food quality on premium trains after she alleged that a meal served onboard the BSB–Deoghar Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 22500) caused a severe allergic reaction and made her two-year-old son ill.
According to her post, the incident took place on March 27 while she was travelling in Coach E1. She claimed that shortly after consuming the onboard meal, she developed a serious allergy, while her child suffered from diarrhoea. She also shared what she described as a hospital medical report from Ranchi and alleged that onboard staff did not treat her complaint seriously. The issue has since gone viral online, sparking debate over catering standards on Vande Bharat services.
In its response, IRCTC said the same day’s meal batch was inspected and found to be within approved standards, adding that no other passenger complaint was received regarding the food served on that trip. The railway catering arm has maintained that the food quality met norms, even as the social media discussion continues.
The controversy comes just days after Indian Railways imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on IRCTC and ₹50 lakh on a vendor in another Vande Bharat food contamination case, showing that railway authorities are currently under heightened scrutiny over onboard meal hygiene.
