40 Kerala students fall ill after pantry meal on Mangala Express; treated at Khandwa station

Bhopal: Food poisoning has been reported aboard the Delhi-Kerala Mangala Lakshadweep Express after a group of Malayali students returning from a school excursion fell ill after consuming food from the train’s pantry car.

The students complained of vomiting and dizziness, prompting railway authorities to halt the train at Khandwa station in Madhya Pradesh on Friday night. The journey resumed after a team of doctors examined and provided first aid to the students.

The incident occurred at around 9 pm on Friday. The Mangala Lakshadweep Express (12618), which departed from Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi on Friday morning, is scheduled to reach Ernakulam at around 9 am on Sunday.

Around 40 students from a school excursion group from Thrissur reportedly fell ill. The group comprised 80 students and 10 teachers, with the affected students travelling in coaches S2 and S3.

Several students began experiencing symptoms after the train passed Itarsi station. The accompanying teachers and school authorities immediately alerted railway officials and contacted the railway helpline.

The students had reportedly been consuming food purchased from the train’s pantry car during the journey. Their symptoms emerged after they had eaten a meal near Itarsi station.

After receiving the alert, railway authorities arranged for a medical team to be present at Khandwa station when the train arrived.

At around 9.30 pm, the affected students were taken off the train at Khandwa and given emergency first aid. After doctors assessed their condition and found them stable, the train resumed its journey after a delay of around 40 minutes.

As a precautionary measure, a special railway medical team accompanied the students on the train from Khandwa to Bhusaval station.

Railway authorities said all the affected students were out of danger and continued their journey safely.

The students, aged between 15 and 18, are expected to cross into Kerala after 2 am on Saturday, according to the train’s schedule.

The identity of the Thrissur school involved in the excursion has not been disclosed. There is also no official confirmation yet on the cause of the illness, although the possibility of expired or contaminated food being served has been raised.