Goa-Mumbai Tejas Express food poisoning: 26 fall ill after eating breakfast, IRCTC suspends catering manager

Mumbai: At least 26 people aboard the Mumbai-bound Tejas Express from Goa were taken ill on Sunday after consuming food served by the Railways’ catering wing, IRCTC, the Konkan Railway said.

The passengers were headed towards Mumbai. After consuming food served by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on the Tejas Express, they complained of uneasiness, Konkan Railway chairman and managing director Sanjay Gupta told PTI.

The train was stopped at the Chiplun station and all 26 people were admitted to the city’s Life Care Hospital.

None of the patients was in serious condition, he said.

The Tejas Express, one of the premium trains of the Indian Railways, connects Mumbai and Karmali in Goa.

The area officer of the IRCTC in Madgaon and the on-board catering manager have been placed under suspension pending a fact-finding committee’s report and results of test of food samples, railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said in New Delhi on Sunday.

Earlier, in an official communication, IRCTC assured that strict action would be taken against the contractor, if found guilty.

“A show-cause notice has been served on the catering contractor and strict action is contemplated if found guilty,” reads the IRCTC statement.

It further stated that the train departed at 9 am from Karmali and 230 passengers were served breakfast on board.

A group of seven passengers complained of nausea and were attended to by onboard supervisor. Meanwhile, two groups of passengers numbering 15 also complained of nausea, the statement stated.

A passenger on board who is a doctor attended to them. The train was given a out of course halt at Chiplun and passengers were attended by railway doctor, mentions the statement.

Ambulances were requisitioned and they were admitted to a local hospital and are under observation, IRCTC stated.

As reported by the hospital, none of the patients was in serious condition, IRCTC claimed in its statement.

“An enquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the incident. The kitchen where food was prepared was inspected by area officer Madgaon after the incident and samples collected for testing,” IRCTC stated.

In response to the food quality complaint, the IRCTC in a series of tweets said: “Food samples have been taken for investigation. A total of 230 breakfast (117 Vegetarian + 113 Non Vegetarian) have been served.”

The IRCTC general manager has proceeded to Chiplun for coordination at the hospital for all arrangements for ensuring the passengers’ comfort and onward movement, IRCTC stated.

The IRCTC also said that all the passengers admitted in hospital were “out of danger”.

The country’s first high-speed Tejas Express boasting of Wi-Fi, LCD screens, and automatic doors, was flagged off on 22 May.

With inputs from PTI and IANS