Twenty children traveling from Kerala on the Mangala Express fell ill after consuming food provided by the train's pantry car. The incident occurred while the train was passing through the Khandwa region, prompting emergency medical attention at the station. Passengers and travel groups must remain vigilant about onboard meals, as food safety on trains continues to be a critical issue for regular commuters across the Indian rail network. Twenty children traveling from Kerala on the Mangala Express fell ill after consuming pantry car food near Khandwa. Emergency medical attention was provided immediately at the Khandwa station. Railway authorities have intensified monitoring and raids on pantry operations to curb substandard food supply.
A History of Railway Food Safety Concerns
While this specific incident involving the Mangala Express has drawn serious concern, railway food safety has unfortunately been a recurring issue across the Indian rail network. Historically, similar incidents have occurred on various routes. In May 2022, 20 passengers, including children, were hospitalized in Thrissur, Kerala, due to severe food poisoning after consuming meals purchased at the Mangalore railway station while traveling on the Maveli Express. More recently, in July 2024, at Khandwa Railway Station, 15 members of a family traveling on the Hyderabad-Hisar Express required urgent medical assistance after consuming Poha.
In response to these alarming health incidents, authorities have stepped up monitoring of pantry operations across multiple zones. For instance, in January 2026, proactive railway officials conducted a sudden raid on the Awadh Express pantry car in Kota, where they successfully seized and confiscated large quantities of substandard food items. Additionally, a separate incident in January 2026 resulted in over 25 railway officials and staff falling ill due to food poisoning during an official event in Bilaspur, highlighting that food safety lapses affect everyone. Passengers are strongly advised to report any quality issues immediately through official railway helplines.
