India, March 24 -- In a shift aiming at improving food availability, the Indian Railways has allowed cooking inside pantry cars on long-distance trains, citing gas supply constraints affecting onboard catering services.

Officials on Monday said the decision applies primarily to trains with extended journeys, particularly those exceeding 24 hours, where passengers had been dependent on food supplied from external cluster kitchens.

The move follows disruptions in LPG supply due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war, which have impacted catering operations managed by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Authorities have now instructed contractors to stock raw materials and prepare fresh meals onboard using non-flame coo...