14 passengers of Ernakulum-bound Duronto express from Delhi were taken ill this morning apparently after taking breakfast and were admitted to a hospital in Kozhikode.
The non-stop train, which had left from Nizamuddin station on Saturday night, made an unscheduled stoppage here at 11.42 AM and the passengers were taken to a nearby government hospital after complaining of nausea and diarrhoea, said a Railway official.
An Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) official in Kozhikode said they have sent food samples for examination to ascertain whether passengers fell ill after consuming the food.
Managing Director of the Corporation Rakesh Tandon said dehydration due to heat was also not being ruled out. Most of those taken ill were travelling in non-AC coaches.
He said the doctors immediately attended to the passengers.
The train left for its onward journey at 2.20 PM.
ADRM of Palghat Division and other senior railway officials rushed to the spot after the incident.
The train was to arrive in Ernakulum today at 3.30 PM.