Kathua: A YouTuber was assaulted by Indian railway pantry staff inside the 3rd AC coach of Hemkunt Express, allegedly after he complained about being charged extra during his journey to Vaishno Devi. Vishal Sharma, a travel vlogger, documented the ordeal he had to face during his travel.
Sharma was attacked by a group of pantry staff who climbed on his berth and ripped his clothes, after he had filed a complaint against them on the RailMadad app regarding overcharging of eatables and water. Shrama had posted a clip from his 28-minitue vlog on X and had questioned the safety of passenger in the Indian Railways. The video went viral and grabbed the attention of Railway Ministry who was also tagged in the post.
The ministry promptly took action and announced that it has imposed a 5 Lakh fine on the caterer and the railway police has lodged an FIR. The ministry also said, "The matter remains under strict watch. Stern action will follow based on the investigation outcome."
On Tuesday, Vishal Sharma boarded the Hemkunt Express, a train that runs between Rishikesh and Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. He filmed himself buying a bottle of packaged drinking water inside his Third AC coach.
IRCTC pantry staff are permitted to sell only Rail Neer water bottles at the approved price of ₹15. However, Sharma was sold a bottle of "Wavy Wonder Aqua" and asked to pay ₹20.
When he asked for a different brand, the vendor selling the bottle responded: “Yahi mila hai sir (This is what we have).”
Later, the travel vlogger also filmed himself buying coffee for ₹20 – as opposed to the standard rate of ₹10 per cup – and noodles for ₹50 instead of the Railways-approved ₹40.
Sharma then filed a complaint on the RailMadad app. Then in the video, a group of pantry staff ganged up at night and asked him to come down from his upper berth. When he resisted multiple times, the pantry staff climbed up to his berth and assaulted him and left him with blood oozing from his hand and his t-shirt torn.
In his 28-minute vlog, uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sharma shows that he got off at Kathua railway station in Jammu & Kashmir at 4:40 AM and reached out to the police. However, he claims in the video that the police did not co-operate with him in filing an FIR.
The ministry of railways has responded in less than 24-hours after FPJ reported the incident.
Railway Ministry Responds
Reacting to the viral video, the ministry posted a screenshot from the clip and said, "The case is being taken with utmost seriousness. A penalty of ₹5 lakh has been imposed on the caterer. An FIR has been lodged by GRP, Kathua. The matter remains under strict watch. Stern action will follow based on the investigation outcome."
After a detailed investigation the ministry of railways announced the termination of the caterers contract by IRCTC on immediate effect. "After a detailed investigation into the incident involving the mishandling of a passenger on Train No. 14609 Hemkunt Express by the on-board catering staff, @IRCTCofficial has terminated its catering contract with Hotel Rajasthan with immediate effect."
The Vlog has received more than 325,920 views and 4,7969+ comments in less than 24 hours.
