Three passengers drugged aboard Saryu Express, one critical

Three passengers, including an elderly couple, were allegedly drugged by a suspected gang aboard the Saryu Express and hospitalised in Sultanpur, with one in critical condition as authorities investigate the incident.

Sultanpur (UP): Three passengers, including an elderly couple, were allegedly drugged by a gang aboard the Saryu Express train here, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident happened on Monday night, they said, adding that the unconscious passengers were later admitted to a hospital.

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Railway Protection Force (RPF) Inspector Ram Kumar Verma said the victims were identified as Hriday Nand Chaube (84), his wife Shaila Devi (76), and Anil Chaube (40), all residents of Kalyanpur in Bihar’s Champaran district.

They were travelling from Prayagraj towards Ayodhya on the Saryu Express when they fell prey to a suspected poisoning gang.

When the train reached Sultanpur, co-passengers alerted the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the RPF. The train was halted briefly and the three victims were deboarded and rushed to the government medical college in an ambulance, where they were admitted for treatment.

Officials said the victims were identified through tickets and Aadhaar cards found in their possession. Doctors have begun treatment, and Hriday Nand Chaube was put on oxygen support as his condition was stated to be serious.

Efforts are being made to inform the victims’ family members, officials said.

Verma added that details about where and how the incident took place would be clear only after the victims regain consciousness.