Over 50 passengers fall ill after consuming stale food from train pantry

Over 50 passengers fall ill after consuming stale food from train pantry

Mangalore Today News Network

Kasargod, Aug 19, 2013 : Over 50 passengers travelling in the Marusagar Express from Ajmer to Ernakulam fell ill after consuming stale food supplied by the  pantry of the train on the night of August 17, Saturday.

Mostly passengers travelling in the AC coach and two sleeper bogies of the train who had consumed non-veg food had fallen ill. All of them were returning after a pilgrim tour to Ajmer.

It is said all of them began to  vomit soon after  consuming food by the time the train reached Mangalore station. When their condition worsened other passengers in the train took the pantry workers to task and even tried to assault them. Some passengers even alleged  that the train pantry was stinking. After railway officials  pacified the passengers, the train proceeded towards Kasargod. In between passengers tried to stop the train twice by pulling the chain.

When the train reached Kannur there was an assurance to arrest the pantry workers who supplied stale food. By the time the train reached Kasargod,  the condition  of many worsened and they were immediately shifted to various hospitals. Some of them were discharged after first aid. The condition of five passengers is said to be serious.

The train after a two hour halt at Kasargod station proceeded towards Ernakulam. The local MLA NA Nellikunnu who visited the train pantry assured legal action against the staff. It is learnt most of the passengers who fell ill had consumed biriyani and egg.