Hospet railway staff return bag with Rs 52,500 and passports to Belgaum passenger

Railway officials on Monday confirmed that staff in the Hubballi division returned a bag containing Rs 52,500 in cash and two passports to a passenger who had accidentally left it behind on a train. The incident occurred on November 8 when Arjun Gurushiddappa Toppavar and his wife were travelling from Bengaluru to Belgaum on the Rani Chennamma Express. After alighting from the train, the couple realized they had left their bag in the air-conditioned coach, which contained their two passports, foreign currency, and the cash sum. According to a statement from the South Western Railway, a bedroll staff member on duty noticed the bag and immediately secured it, handing it over to the relevant senior staff. The team then traced the passenger’s details and informed the concerned officials. The following day, when a train travelling from Sangli to Bengaluru arrived at Belgaum railway station, conductor Anand Kumar, with the assistance of the bedroll staff, safely handed the bag over to its rightful owner, Toppavar. In a statement, Toppavar expressed his gratitude for the railway staff’s prompt action, honesty, and commitment.