Passengers questioned railway staff after they alleged that expired vegetable soup was being sold on a train near Belagavi
Passengers on a Delhi-bound train alleged that expired vegetable soup was sold during the journey near Belagavi, prompting a complaint to railway authorities.
Hubballi: A video of passengers questioning railway authorities over the alleged sale of expired vegetable soup on a train has circulated on social media. The incident reportedly took place on August 6 as the Hazrat Nizamuddin Express from Delhi was approaching Belagavi.
Passengers, including Sagar Kulkarni, reportedly raised the issue after noticing that the vegetable soup being sold in the coach had crossed its expiry date. They questioned the railway catering staff and asked them not to continue selling the product.
According to the passenger account, the same soup was allegedly offered again about 30 minutes later. Passengers then raised the issue with railway authorities and recorded the complaint on video.
The video subsequently circulated on social media, bringing attention to the food being supplied during the journey.
Expired Soup Complaint on Train Near Belagavi
Passengers reportedly questioned the catering staff after noticing the expiry information on the vegetable soup.
The passengers objected to the sale of the product and asked the staff to stop serving it. However, according to the account shared by the passengers, the same soup was offered again around 30 minutes later.
The passengers then approached railway authorities and raised the issue during the journey. The incident was reported on August 6, while the video was circulated subsequently.
Passengers alleged that expired vegetable soup was offered again after they had already raised the issue with railway staff.
The passengers have sought action against those responsible for supplying the food and called for checks on catering products served on trains.
Railway Food Complaints Raise Catering Questions
The incident has brought attention to food-quality complaints involving railway catering. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha in July 2025, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said passengers had registered 6,645 complaints related to food quality during 2024-25.
According to the government data reported at the time, fines were imposed on food suppliers in 1,341 cases. Warnings were issued in 2,995 cases, while advisories were issued in 1,547 cases.
The figures cover complaints across the railway network and are not specific to Karnataka or the August 6 incident.
Recent food-quality complaints have also resulted in penalties. In March 2026, the Railway Ministry imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on IRCTC following a food-quality complaint involving a Vande Bharat Express, while a catering contractor faced a separate ₹50 lakh penalty.
Karnataka Railway Catering Complaints
Karnataka has several railway hubs, including Bengaluru, Hubballi and Mysuru, and trains operating through the state serve passengers across multiple routes.
Passengers have previously raised complaints about food supplied on trains, including claims involving insects and other contamination. Such complaints have at times circulated through videos and social media posts, leading to action by railway authorities.
However, each complaint is subject to verification, and allegations made through passenger videos do not by themselves establish a violation by a particular catering contractor.
The August 6 incident involving the vegetable soup is being reported based on the passenger complaint and video account provided.
How to Report Expired Food on Trains?
Passengers who receive expired, contaminated or otherwise substandard food on trains can lodge complaints through the RailMadad system.
The official RailMadad portal allows passengers to register train-related complaints and track their status. Passengers can provide journey details, including the train number, PNR, coach and berth information, and can upload supporting files such as photographs or videos.
RailMadad also lists 139 as the integrated railway helpline. The system allows passengers to submit complaints through the web portal, app, SMS and helpline.
RailMadad official complaint portal, Passengers can retain the food package, expiry information and purchase details where possible and provide photographs or videos while submitting the complaint.
The August 6 complaint has renewed attention on food supplied during train journeys, with passengers seeking action against suppliers if the allegation is confirmed.
