Catering onboard long-distance trains has been declared an essential category even as the cooking was restored, and regular catering has been started from Thursday night.

The petroleum ministry, following a letter from the Railway Board, has advised petroleum companies — BPCL, HPCL, and Indian Oil — and all the states to provide 19 kg cylinders to all railway kitchens as per the requirement. Mid-day had mentioned in Thursday’s edition that ‘catering on trains may become an essential service'.