Two passengers travelling on Patna Kota Express died and six were hospitalised due to dehydration in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, said the Railways officials.
"Information was received from Patna Kota Express that a passenger is ill. Team was sent. Two people died and 5 passengers are hospitalised. According to the doctor, the cause of death is dehydration," said Virendra Singh, Assistant Commercial Manager, Railway Agra Division.
They were part of a group of 90 passengers from Raipur in Chhattisgarh. Five of the six people who feel sick were undergoing treatment at a railway hospital in Agra while the sixth was admitted to the S N Medical College.
"A call was received on the railway helpline number about the passengers...falling sick.They were travelling in an AC coach. A woman aged about 62 years and a man aged nearly 65 were declared dead by the doctor at the Agra Cantt Railway Station. Five passengers from the same group are being treated at (hospitals)," said North Central Railway PRO in Agra Division Prashasti Srivastava.
She said the cause of death was not known yet.
Asked if it was a case of food poisoning or dehydration, she said, "It will be known after the postmortem."
On whether they were given poison-laced sweets by a criminal gang known as "zeher khurani", she said there was no such complaint.
