Dead Fly Allegedly Found in Veg Biryani on Tejas Express Sparks Outrage Over Railway Catering Standards

The incident is reported to have taken place aboard Tejas Express train number 82902 operating on the Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central route. According to a viral post shared on social media platform X by user @SumitResearch, the passenger was served a veg biryani combo meal during the journey. Upon opening the food container, the passenger allegedly discovered a dead fly inside the meal.

The passenger shared photographic evidence online and directly tagged the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation along with the Railway Minister, demanding an investigation into the matter. The post quickly gained widespread attention, triggering heated debate over food safety standards in premium train services.

Thank You @IRCTCofficial for Serving Quality Food With Fly and Insects

That too in Tejas (Most Premium One)

Pathetic Service with Higher Cost @AshwiniVaishnaw ji please check

Train Numbers 82902
Coach E2
Seat 48 @RailMinIndia @IRCTCofficial @irctcwestzone @TimesNow pic.twitter.com/1JX8ZXQPyB

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— Sumit Mehrotra (@SumitResearch) June 23, 2026

Following the complaint, onboard railway officials, including the train captain and the onboard catering manager, reportedly approached the passenger to address the issue. They apologised for the lapse and offered to replace the meal. However, the passenger refused to accept a replacement and declined further food service.

The incident has ignited strong reactions across social media platforms, with users expressing frustration over the perceived decline in food quality. One user commented that such incidents are discouraging passengers from opting for railway food services. Another user sarcastically remarked that the meal appeared to have been prepared long in advance. A further comment criticized systemic inefficiencies, stating that while food contamination is visible, deeper administrative issues remain unaddressed. Another passenger stated that they would rather travel hungry than rely on railway food due to lack of trust in quality standards.

The controversy has once again placed railway catering practices under scrutiny, particularly in premium train services such as Tejas Express, which are expected to maintain higher standards of hygiene and passenger experience.