GREEN POISON: Viral video exposes shocking 'Dye Scam' at railway station

PATNA: That crisp, refreshing cucumber in your salad might not be as "farm-fresh" as it looks. A shocking video capturing vendors using artificial green dyes to make wilted cucumbers look vibrant has gone viral, sparking serious health concerns among commuters.

The footage, filmed at the Katihar Railway Station in Bihar, shows a woman dipping dull, withered cucumbers into a tub of bright green liquid. Once submerged, the vegetables emerge looking unnaturally fresh and ready for sale.

Following the social media outcry—including a share from the National Crime Investigation Bureau—the Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched an immediate probe. The crackdown led to the apprehension of nine women involved in the scam.

The vendors reportedly claimed they were using food coloring typically reserved for sweets to enhance the vegetables' appearance. However, the unauthorised use of such dyes on raw produce raises red flags regarding food safety and chemical ingestion.

"Poisoning the Blood of Passengers"

The viral video was accompanied by a scathing caption highlighting the negligence of local authorities:

"At Katihar railway station in Bihar, passengers' lives are being openly toyed with. In the presence of hundreds of railway employees and dozens of railway police personnel, these women selling cucumbers are poisoning the blood of passengers, but the entire railway administration and police staff are sleeping with blindfolds over their eyes. After all, who will take responsibility for the safety of passengers' health at the railway station or in the train? Is there anyone responsible for such tampering with people's health to continue like this?"

देख रहे हैं @RailMinIndia जी –

बिहार के कटिहार रेलवे स्टेशन पर खुलेआम यात्रियों की ज़िंदगी से खिलवाड़ हो रहा है। सैकड़ों रेल कर्मचारियों और दर्जनों रेल पुलिसकर्मियों की मौजूदगी में ये खीरा बेचने वाली महिलाएं यात्रियों के खून में ज़हर घोल रही हैं, लेकिन पूरा रेलवे प्रशासन और… pic.twitter.com/qMxrJBqbMa

— NCIB Headquarters (@NCIBHQ) May 8, 2026

Lifestyle tip: How to spot "painted" produce

While it’s tempting to grab a quick snack during a train journey, here is how you can stay safe:

• Rub test: Rub the skin of the vegetable firmly with your thumb or a damp white tissue. If colour transfers, it’s dyed.
• Check the Stem: If the stem or the sliced ends are the same vibrant green as the skin, it’s likely been dipped in dye.
• Water Soak: At home, soak your vegetables in water for 15 minutes. Artificial colours will often bleed into the water.
• Trust the "Ugly": Real produce isn't always neon-bright. A slightly duller, natural-looking cucumber is often safer than one that looks "picture perfect."

This incident serves as a grim reminder to stay vigilant about what we consume while travelling. When it comes to street food and station snacks, if it looks too green to be true, it probably is.