Ajay Raina
JAMMU, Feb 21: As the situation in Haryana remained tense, the inter-State train services continued to be affected for the third consecutive day, which has resulted into manifold problems to the stranded passengers especially Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
Official sources told the EXCELSIOR that around 11 trains to Jammu and Katra from other parts of the country and vice versa were cancelled for the third consecutive day as precautionary measure.
Jammu Tawi Railway Station today also witnessed heavy rush of tourists especially Vaishno Devi pilgrims due to cancellation of trains in view of ongoing agitation of Jats for reservation in Haryana, sources added.
Sources said that to provide some relief to the stranded passengers, Northern Railways arranged two special trains between Jammu-New Delhi. Train number 02414 left for Delhi at 8 pm today from Jammu Railway Station, while another train (02472) left for Delhi from Katra Railway Station at 9 pm via Saharanpur route.
The trains will pass through Saharanpur route (Jammu-Pathankot-Ludhiana-Ambala-Saharanpur- Ghaziabad-New Delhi), are plying without any disturbance. The trains are having 24 coaches each and are unreserved, sources informed, adding around 3,000 stranded passengers traveled through these two special trains from Jammu and Katra to New Delhi. .
The trains, which were cancelled today included Malwa, Jammu Mail, Jhelum, Shiv Shakti, Rajdhani, AC Special, Kote and Jamnagar, whileas trains plying through Saharanpur route (Jammu-Ludhiana-Ambala-Saharanpur-Ghaziabad-Delhi) including Pooja Special, Begumpura, Hemkund, Shalimar, Archana, Sealdah, Himgiri, Bhatinda and Anand Vihar are running without disturbance, sources added.
Sources asserted that the situation in Haryana is heading towards normalcy and the rail traffic from Jammu and Katra is likely to be restored tomorrow after witnessing the situation.
Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Service from Pathankot to Katra and vice versa, which remained suspended for the past three days was resumed today, which has provided sigh of relief to the people traveling within the State.
When contacted, Divisional Traffic Manager (DTM), Northern Railway, Sudhir Kumar Singh said that around 11 trains have been cancelled, which have affected around 20,000 to 25,000 passengers.
Two special trains were sent by Railways to Delhi via Saharanpur route. He further stated that DMU service has also been resumed from today. Due to suspension of trains, Railways suffered heavy loss running in crores, he added.
The bus service from Jammu to other parts of the country also remained partially affected. Some of the buses going to Delhi have been diverted from Uttar Pradesh and are coming back to Jammu via same route.
Meanwhile, in order to give succor to the stranded passengers in J&K, Indian Air Force (IAF) administration at Jammu is keeping the Satwari Airport open for civil air traffic in the night from today, said Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta, Defence Spokesperson.
He stated that this measure will ensure availability of airport for civil operators round the clock. The administration of Airport Authority of India (AAI) and all other civil aviation agencies like DGCA and airline operating companies have been intimated by Indian Air Force through a ‘Notice To Airmen’ regarding the extended period of availability of Airport.
IAF officials at Satwari Airport have clarified that this relief measure will be in vogue till complete normalcy returns, he added.
However, North Western Railway today announced cancellation of 103 trains and diverted 22 others on February 22 and 23 in view of the Jat agitation.
The passengers are advised to check their train schedule, its CPRO Tarun Jain said.
The trains between Ajmer-Kishanganj, Ajmer-Jammu, Ajmer-New Delhi, Ajmer-Hardwar, Udaipur-Delhi, Jaipur-Delhi double decker, Jaipur-Chandigarh, Jodhpur-Delhi Mandore Express, Jaisalmer-Delhi, Sriganganagar-Delhi, Bhiwani-Panipat, Delhi-Bhatinda, Bikaner-Delhi, Lalgarh-Tinsukhiya, Howrah-Jaisalmer, Hissar Gorakhpur, Srigangangar-Ferozepur and Rohtak-Bhiwani trains were among cancelled (to and fro) on February 22 and 23, he said.
Twenty-two other trains will be diverted due to the agitation.
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