Mumbai: Several rats were reportedly found tasting and eating food meant for passengers in the pantry car of the long distance 11099 Mumbai Lokmanya Tilak Terminus – Madgaon Express in Goa on Wednesday, sparking outrage on social media.
Mangirish Tendulkar, a passenger who was traveling in the train on the night of October 15, said he was shocked to see at least 6-7 rats in the pantry car eating the food served to the passengers.
He made a video of the rats feasting in the pantry car and posted it on social media, drawing sharp reactions from many people who raised questions over the hygiene standards of the Indian Railways and the health concerns of the passengers. Tendulkar said that after the filming he complained to an RPF constable there, who reportedly told him “Look down on the tracks, there are 500-600 rats, if 5-6 have got inside, why are you so worried?” Are?”
Hurt by the reaction, the angry passenger called the Assistant Station Manager, who called the Pantry Manager. She reportedly expressed helplessness and said, “There are so many rats in the pantry, what can we do?”
Frustrated, Tendulkar also lodged a complaint on the Rail Madad app, to which an executive responded that they would punish IRCTC, although the Central Railways and other concerned authorities are yet to respond to the incident and the viral video.
Tendulkar’s revealing video shows that rats have indeed taken over the place. One rat climbed onto an open container and jumped on the food, another buried its face inside the food items before running away, while some rats were seen running around the pantry platform where freshly cut vegetables were kept And other food packets, dishes and utensils are also visible on pantry shelves.
Do Watch…
— मुंबई Matters™ (@mumbaimatterz) October 18, 2023
To provide hygienic & tasty food to passengers & to monitor Quality Control #IndianRailways have appointed 🐭Food Tasters 🐀🐁inside Pantry Cars.
Pilot project inside Pantry Car of 11009 LTT Madgaon Express on 14th Oct 2023. pic.twitter.com/xM7m2330uS
