A train passenger who said he was vegetarian slapped a waiter for serving him meat in India.

The elderly man had already eaten the food when he noticed the packaging said ‘non-vegetarian' before furiously complaining at the Vande Bharat Express carriage travelling from Howrah to Ranchi City on July 26.

Footage shows the passenger in an orange shirt confronting the worker, who kept apologising to him amid the chaos.

Concerned passengers and co-workers intervened as the man lashed out on the waiter.

A passenger said: ‘Why would you slap him? Look at your age.'

Meanwhile, Prakash Charan, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Railway, said that while the non-vegetarian meal was served by mistake, the elderly man 'did not eat it.'

He added that another passenger 'apologised to the waiter, and the issue was settled.'

Many Indians are vegetarian due to cultural, religious, and historical reasons. Religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism emphasize non-violence, leading followers to adopt vegetarian diets. Additionally, vegetarianism is often seen as a healthier and more ethical lifestyle, further reinforced by societal norms and traditions.