Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh): Four elderly pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who were travelling on a train from Agra to Coimbatore in non-AC coaches died allegedly due to extreme heat.

North Central Railway (Jhansi division) PRO Manoj Kumar Singh on Tuesday (June 11) spoke to media and said that the exact cause of death of the passengers aboard the Kerala Express would be determined after the post-mortem report is available.

Manoj Kumar further said that they were part of a group, which was on a religious tour. They reached Agra from Varanasi, and from there, were heading back to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu by the Kerala Express.

According to reports, the four, including two women, were seated in S-8 and S-9 coaches, which are non-AC, and other passengers who were travelling in the same coaches claimed that they died due to excessive heat.

Earlier, on Monday (June 10), the older people had complained of anxiety, and by the time the train reached Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, three of them had died.

Another passenger, who was in a critical condition, died in a private hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Pachayya (80), Balakrishnan (67), Dhanalakshmi (74), and Subbaraiyya (71), the PRO said.

Jhansi, in Bundelkhand, which is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh has been experiencing a severe heatwave in the recent weeks, with the maximum temperature hovering well above 45 degrees Celsius.

The PRO said that because of extreme heat, special arrangements were being made at railway stations for potable water for travellers.

The bodies were being sent to Coimbatore in a special luggage van.

About the cause of death, Singh said, "The post-mortem report is awaited. The exact cause will be known only after the report comes."