'Roza Hai?' Man Surprised After Iftar Served On Board Howrah-Shatabdi Express

IRCTC officials said the meal for Shahnawaz Akhtar was arranged by the on-board catering manager personally

New Delhi: In a heartwarming incident, a passenger on board the Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi Express was left surprised when iftar was offered to him on the train by the catering staff as he was about to break his Ramzan fast. Narrating the incident, Shahnawaz Akhtar took to Twitter to thank Indian Railways for the gesture.

"Thank you Indian Railways for the Iftar. As soon as I boarded Howrah-Shatabdi at Dhanbad, I got my snacks. I requested the pantry man to bring tea little late as I am fasting. He confirmed by asking, aap roza hai? I nodded in yes. Later someone else came with iftar," Akhtar tweeted and also posted a photograph of the meal served to him.

While the IRCTC serves "Upwas Meals" during Navratri for Hindu passengers, no such service is available during Ramzan.

IRCTC officials said the meal for Akhtar was arranged by the on-board catering manager personally, PTI reported.

"The staff was readying to break their fast and the passenger boarded the same coach. He told us he is fasting, so the staff shared their iftar with him. This is basic humanity," Prakash Kumar Behera, on-board catering supervisor, IRCTC, told PTI.

The incident led to an avalanche of reactions on social media as netizens praised the catering staff onboard the train.

Darshana Jardosh, Minister of State for Railways, said the incident was a perfect example of how the government led by PM Modi works with the motto of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas.

"The whole of Indian Railways family is touched by your comments and hope you had a good meal. This is a perfect example of how the government led by PM Modi works with the motto of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas. Jai Hind," Darshana Jardosh tweeted.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has introduced a special menu for passengers during the Navratri festival. The dishes in the special menu are cooked without onion and garlic, and are prepared with rock salt.

Muslims around the world are observing Ramzan fast. Iftar is the nightly meal that marks the breaking of the fast.