Hemkunt Express: Indian Railways Cancels Caterer’s Contract After Passenger Assaulted Over Rs 15 Water
The Hemkunt Express runs between Rishikesh and Katra, a key route for pilgrims visiting the Sri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Indian Railways has swiftly cancelled the catering contract with Hotel Rajasthan after a shocking incident on the Hemkunt Express, where a passenger was allegedly beaten by catering staff for complaining about being overcharged.
The cancellation was announced on Thursday via the Ministry of Railways’ official account on social media platform X, following a detailed investigation.
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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.— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 8, 2025
What Happened on Board
The incident took place on 6th May aboard the Hemkunt Express, which runs between Rishikesh and Katra, the gateway to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
A passenger travelling in Third AC raised a complaint after being charged more than the approved price for basic items like water, coffee, and noodles.
- He was sold non-IRCTC branded water for Rs 20 instead of Rs 15
- Coffee and noodles were also priced higher than their official rates
The passenger used the RailMadad app to file a complaint and later shared a video of the incident online.
Outrageous! A passenger filed an online complaint about being overcharged by catering staff on 14609, Hemkunt express. Just hours later, he was brutally beaten by the pantry staff, simply for daring to raise a complaint!Today’s incident. pic.twitter.com/j6f0HAksN7
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) May 7, 2025
What started as a pricing complaint soon turned violent. The passenger was allegedly attacked by a group of men, believed to be associated with the catering staff.
- The video shows the group pulling him from his berth and assaulting him
- His clothes were torn and visible injuries could be seen in the footage
The man later appealed for justice and demanded strict action, saying the attackers tried to seriously harm him.
Swift Action by Indian Railways
Following a detailed investigation, the Ministry of Railways announced on X (formerly Twitter) that it had:
- Terminated the catering contract with Hotel Rajasthan immediately
- Imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the service provider
- Confirmed that the Government Railway Police in Kathua had filed an FIR
The IRCTC added that the matter had been escalated to senior officials to ensure quick action. Indian Railways stated this move is part of a larger effort to protect passengers from overcharging and misconduct by onboard service providers.
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