Indian authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a Nigerian national who reportedly collapsed and died shortly after being detained and questioned by railway security personnel at Surat Railway Station in Gujarat.

The man, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi aboard the Golden Temple Express when an altercation reportedly broke out between passengers on the train.

According to reports cited in the supplied account, a passenger contacted the Indian Railways helpline, 139, to report a fight near the doors of the train while it was travelling between Vapi and Surat.

Railway authorities reportedly alleged that the Nigerian national became involved in the confrontation and discharged a fire extinguisher toward other passengers.

When the train arrived at Surat Railway Station, personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) reportedly removed the man from the train and took him to the RPF office for questioning.

However, while inside the office, he allegedly became unwell and suddenly collapsed.

He was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors reportedly pronounced him dead on arrival.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) has since opened an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the man’s death and determine the precise cause of the collapse.

Investigators are expected to examine the events leading up to his detention, what occurred while he was being questioned and the medical circumstances surrounding his death.

A post-mortem examination and forensic procedures are expected to form part of the investigation.

Preliminary inquiries reportedly found that the deceased had previously been booked in two separate drug-related cases registered at police stations in Malwani and Malad in Mumbai.

Authorities are also investigating the purpose of his journey to Delhi and whether his previous cases had any connection with the incident on the train.

The death comes amid heightened scrutiny of cases involving foreign nationals and drug-related investigations in India’s railway system. Earlier this year, Indian authorities reported several arrests involving Nigerian nationals on trains in Gujarat, including drug seizures at Surat railway station.

However, those cases involved different individuals and circumstances and should not be taken as evidence that the deceased Nigerian was involved in any new offence.

The exact cause of the man’s death remains unclear pending medical and forensic findings.

The GRP investigation is expected to establish whether the death resulted from a medical emergency or another cause and to determine whether there was any misconduct during his detention.

Nigerian diplomatic representatives are also expected to be notified as the investigation progresses and authorities complete the post-mortem process.