NEW DELHI, November 11, 2026: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has penalised a catering contractor after a passenger reported finding a metal fragment in his dal while travelling aboard the Guwahati to Okha Dwarka Express.
The incident came to public attention after passenger Amit Awasthi shared videos on social media platform X, showing the foreign object and questioning the hygiene standards followed by the onboard catering staff.
Awasthi said he had already consumed nearly half his meal when he discovered the metal piece. Concerned that he might have accidentally swallowed a fragment, he sought an explanation from the catering employees and urged railway authorities to investigate.
IRCTC subsequently confirmed that a penalty had been imposed on the service provider and that the staff involved had been removed from the duty roster.
Passenger Finds Metal Piece in Dal on Guwahati-Okha Express
The incident was reported aboard train number 15636, the Guwahati to Okha Dwarka Express.
According to Awasthi's social media post dated November 10, he had purchased a meal for ₹150 from the train's catering service.
While eating, he noticed a silver-coloured metal fragment in the dal.
He recorded a video showing the object and explained that he had already eaten a considerable portion of the food before discovering it.
Awasthi expressed concern that he might have swallowed a similar fragment without noticing.
He also questioned how such an object could have entered food being served to passengers.
The video attracted attention online, prompting calls for stricter food safety checks on trains.
Catering Staff Says Metal May Have Come From Utensil-Cleaning Scrubber
In a second video shared by the passenger, a member of the onboard catering staff was seen responding to the complaint.
The employee suggested that the metal piece might have come from a steel scrubber used to clean kitchen utensils.
Such scrubbers generally contain thin metallic strands that can detach during cleaning.
The staff member apologised and indicated that the fragment might have accidentally remained in a utensil before entering the prepared food.
However, the explanation offered by the employee was not accompanied by an independently verified finding establishing exactly how the object entered the meal.
Awasthi continued questioning the hygiene practices followed by the catering service.
The incident raised concerns about whether adequate checks had been carried out before the meal was served.
Passenger Refuses Replacement Meal and Refund
Following the complaint, the catering employee offered to provide another meal.
The staff member also proposed refunding the amount paid.
However, Awasthi declined both offers.
He maintained that the problem was not simply about replacing the food or returning the money.
His concern was the possibility of having consumed a metallic object and the food safety standards followed by the catering contractor.
The passenger said he intended to take the matter to railway authorities rather than settle it through a refund.
He subsequently tagged IRCTC, Railway Seva and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in his posts.
The videos helped bring the complaint to the attention of the railway catering authorities.
IRCTC Imposes Penalty on Catering Contractor
IRCTC responded publicly to the complaint and confirmed that action had been taken against the catering service provider.
The corporation said it had treated the matter seriously and imposed what it described as a substantial penalty.
It also issued a warning to the contractor to prevent similar incidents.
IRCTC confirmed that the staff involved had been derostered.
Derostering means removing employees from their assigned duty schedule. It does not necessarily mean that their employment has been permanently terminated.
The corporation did not disclose the amount of the penalty or specify whether additional disciplinary proceedings would follow.
The identity of the catering contractor was also not established in the public reports reviewed.
Did the Passenger Swallow the Metal Fragment?
Awasthi said he was worried about the possibility of having swallowed a metallic strand because he had already eaten part of the meal.
In his social media posts, he expressed a desire to undergo medical examination.
However, the available reports do not confirm that he actually swallowed metal or suffered an injury.
No verified medical findings concerning the passenger were available at the time of publication.
The distinction is important because his concern about possible ingestion should not be treated as evidence that ingestion occurred.
The confirmed incident involves the discovery of a metal fragment in the meal and the subsequent action announced by IRCTC.
Incident Raises Questions About Railway Food Hygiene
Food safety is an important part of passenger services, particularly on long-distance trains where travellers depend on onboard meals.
Railway catering involves several stages, including food preparation, storage, transportation, handling and serving.
Each stage requires appropriate hygiene practices to prevent contamination.
A foreign object in prepared food can indicate a failure at one or more points in that process.
If the fragment originated from a cleaning scrubber, as suggested by the employee, the incident would raise questions about cleaning procedures and inspections before meals are served.
However, the precise source of the metal has not been independently established.
Indian Railways and IRCTC have existing arrangements for monitoring food quality and taking action against catering service providers when complaints are substantiated.
The latest incident highlights the importance of consistent enforcement of those standards.
How Can Passengers Report Poor Food Quality on Indian Trains?
Passengers who encounter contaminated food, unhygienic conditions or other catering problems can submit complaints through Indian Railways' official grievance channels.
The available options include:
- RailMadad: Submit a train-related complaint through the official portal at https://railmadad.indianrailways.gov.in/.
- Railway Helpline: Call 139 for assistance and railway-related grievances.
- Onboard Railway Staff: Inform the train superintendent, ticket-checking staff or relevant catering supervisor.
- Official Railway Social Media Accounts: Report the issue through verified railway support accounts.
Passengers should retain relevant details, including the train number, date of journey, coach and seat number, meal receipt and photographs of the food.
If a foreign object is discovered, preserving the item and the remaining food may also help authorities examine the complaint.
Anyone who suspects they have swallowed a sharp object should seek prompt medical assessment rather than relying on a replacement meal or refund.
What Happens Next in the IRCTC Catering Complaint?
IRCTC has confirmed a penalty against the catering contractor and action involving staff assigned to the service.
However, several details remain undisclosed, including the exact penalty amount and whether the contractor will face any additional inspection or disciplinary measures.
The corporation has not publicly provided a detailed account of how the metal fragment entered the meal.
For passengers, the incident has again brought attention to the quality and safety of food served on long-distance trains.
While IRCTC's response demonstrates that the complaint resulted in action, preventing similar incidents will depend on effective food handling procedures, regular inspections and accountability among catering service providers.
Editorial disclosure: This article is based on Amit Awasthi's public social media complaint, IRCTC's reported response and coverage by Hindustan Times, Moneycontrol, India Today and other news organisations. All India Story has not independently examined the meal or the metal fragment.
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