New Delhi: A pregnant woman was allegedly strangled to death by a co-passenger when she objected to him smoking onboard a train. The victim was travelling to Bihar in Jallianwala Bagh Express on Friday night with her family. They were on their way to Bihar for taking part in Chhat puja festivities. She was in the general bogey of Punjab-Bihar Jallianwala Express when she objected to a co-passenger, identified as Sonu Yadav, for smoking in the train.

The GRP police station In-charge, Shahjahanpur, AK Pandey was quoted by PTI as saying that after a heated argument, Yadav attacked the woman and strangled her. The train was later stopped at Shahjahanpur and the woman was rushed to a hospital where the doctors declared her dead. The accused has been arrested and the probe underway, Pandey said.

In another related news, five people died when the earth caved in Bihar’s Samastipur district on Friday while they were digging it to make earthen ovens for the ‘Chhath’ festival. Five people, including two women and a minor, died on the spot and six were injured after a mound of earth fell on them.

The injured were later admitted to a hospital, the official said, adding that the kin of the deceased would be provided financial assistance.