Footage depicting mice scurrying and consuming food in a pantry car on a long-distance train has surfaced on social media platforms.
The presence of these rodents in the pantry car of the 11009 LTT Madgaon Express has raised concerns about the hygiene protocols implemented by the Indian Railways.
The videos, which were shared on Instagram by a passenger on the train, show the incident that allegedly took place on October 15.
The passenger, who goes by the username @mangirish_tendulkar, explains that they initially intended to record the train’s engine coupling but were shocked to discover the pantry car was infested with an estimated 6-7 rats, of which only 4 were captured on film.
The passenger claims to have brought this matter to the attention of a Railway Protection Force (RPF) official, who dismissively responded by saying, “Look under the tracks; there are 500–600 rats. What is the problem if 5–6 of them get inside?”
In the first video, a mouse can be seen nibbling on food in the pantry car. Another mouse joins in before scurrying away.
The second video shows mice roaming around the pantry platform, where chopped vegetables, cooking utensils, and open packets of food ingredients are stored.
After receiving numerous reports from concerned users, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Central Railway’s Mumbai Division tagged the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on their official account, urging them to investigate the matter.
One user of X added, ”Railway authorities should thoroughly investigate the matter. They tagged Ashwini Vaishnaw and Indian Rail Media, emphasising that such incidents tarnish the reputation of the nation. Additionally, they mentioned that Goa attracts a significant number of both foreign and domestic tourists for tourism purposes.”
Another user sarcastically commented on the situation, questioning, ”When the Indian Railways began appointing rats as food tasting and inspection officers in pantry cars, They used a colloquial phrase to highlight the absurdity of the situation.”
Yet another user expressed, “I hope that appropriate action will be taken in response to the issue.”
