A routine complaint about poor air conditioning led to a discovery that shocked passengers of the Lucknow–Barauni Express - hundreds of whiskey bottles hidden in the AC duct of an AC tier coach.
The incident occurred when passengers reported issues with the air duct and overall cooling in the bogey. Soon, railway technicians inspecting the duct above berths 32 and 34 were stunned after unscrewing the top AC vents.
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The technicians uncovered liquor bottles wrapped in newspaper, obstructing the airflow. Authorities quickly confiscated the illicit liquor and conducted a thorough search of the coach to ensure there were no other hidden contraband goods.
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On X, Railway Seva replied to a user’s video, stating, “For necessary action, escalated to the concerned official @drm_sonpur.” They later added that, in connection with the incident, GRP Basti has registered Crime No. 34/2025 under Section 60 of the Excise Act.
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Sonpur followed up with an apology and confirmed the actions taken. “We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers. The illicit liquor was seized by the appropriate authorities, and the issue of less cooling was resolved afterwards. We are thankful for bringing the issue to our notice,” the reply read.
Bihar has had a total prohibition on the sale and consumption of alcohol since April 2016, with strict penalties for violations. While intended to reduce alcohol abuse and related crimes, the ban has also led to increased smuggling activity.
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