Some of the affected passengers said in Kozhikode that several of them who had bread and omelette for breakfast complained of nausea and diarrhoea around 11.30 am. However, some other passengers suspected that it was the food they had the previous evening that caused the trouble.
Following this, the train made an unscheduled stoppage in Kozhikode at 11.40 am and the passengers were taken to hospital. However, the condition of none of the passengers was stated to be serious. Most of those taken ill were travelling in non-AC coaches. The train had to be detained at Kozhikode for close to three hours.
An official of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation said the food samples had been sent for examination. Minister of state for Railways E Ahmed who visited the passengers in the hospital said a high-level inquiry had been ordered into the incident. He also announced a compensation of Rs 15,000 to each of the affected passengers and free treatment. The train left for its onward journey at 2.20 pm after a medical team was deputed to assist the passengers.
The Duronto Express which began its journey this year has been beset with problems. Two weeks ago, the non-stop train operated without a proper pantry which left most passengers starving for over a day. In another instance, the railway authorities harassed the family of a person who died during the journey.
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