Vaishno Devi pilgrims, tourists suffer
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Nov 23: Railway Authorities today cancelled, diverted, or short-terminated several Jammu-bound trains, or trains that head to New Delhi, Rishikesh or other cities from Jammu by originating either from the Jammu Tawi Railway Station, Katra, or the Udhampur Town of the region due to the ongoing demonstration of the farmers in Punjab, who have been demanding a rise in State-assured prices for the sugarcane crop.
The protesting farmers have been alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party Government in Punjab assured to hold a meeting with their (farmers’) representatives to announce a hike in the sugarcane prices from Rs 380 to Rs 450 per quintal but the same meeting has been cancelled owing to which they have to take their struggle to the streets and the roads.
The protesters who initially blocked the road traffic between Jalandhar and Ludhiana and Jalandhar and Nawanshahar on November 21, 2023, gradually resorted to rail blockade, causing massive inconvenience to the travellers particularly the Vaishno Devi pilgrims and tourists visiting Kashmir and religious places of Jammu.
According to a Railway Spokesperson, total 12 trains that either reach Jammu from other cities or depart from Jammu, Udhampur, and Katra, have to be cancelled due to the farmers’ protests.
He said the trains which were cancelled today were Shri Shakti Express (22461) which runs from New Delhi to Vaishno Devi, Katra, and Shri Shakti Express (22462) which runs from Katra to New Delhi, Kanpur Central SF Express (12470) from Jammu Tawi to Kanpur Central, Hemkunt Express (14610) from SMVD to Rishikesh, Uttar Sampark Kranti Express (12445) from New Delhi to Vaishno Devi, Katra, and Uttar Sampark Kranti Express (12446) from Vaishno Devi, Katra to New Delhi, and Jammu Mail (14033) from Old Delhi to Vaishno Devi, Katra.
Shri Shakti Express (22462) has also been cancelled on November 24, 2023. Garib Rath Special (04073) that runs from New Delhi to Vaishno Devi, Katra has been cancelled on November 24, 2023, and Garib Rath Special (04074) from Vaishno Devi, Katra to New Delhi on November 26, 2023, NDLS UHP Special (04075) from New Delhi to Udhampur cancelled on November 25, 2023, and NDLS UHP Special (04076) from Udhampur to New Delhi cancelled on November 27.
Out of total 10 trains which have been announced to be diverted, 7 were diverted today. They are Svdk Vandebharat (22440) that runs from Katra to New Delhi, Jammu Mail (14034) that runs from Vaishno Devi Katra to Delhi, Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan DEE AC (22402) from Udhampur Delhi Sarai Rohilla, UHP Kota Express (20986) from Martyr Tushar Mahajan Railway Station (Udhampur) to Kota, Jammu Tawi-Sambalpur Express (18310 JCO) from Jammu Tawi to Rourkela, Hemkunt Express (14609) from Rishikesh to Vaishno Devi, Katra, and Jammu Tawi Rajdhani Express (12425) from New Delhi Railway Station to Jammu Tawi.
The trains which were cancelled on November 22, 2022 were Jammu Tawi Express (13151) from Kolkata to Jammu Tawi, Jhelum Express (11077) from Pune to Jammu Tawi, and Tata-Jammu Tawi Express (18101) from Tata Nagar Junction to Jammu Tawi.
Meanwhile, one train, Begumpura Express (12237) from Varanasi to Jammu Tawi, was short-terminated at Ludhiana and Begumpura Express (12238) from Jammu Tawi to Varanasi has been cancelled.
As far as the number of the total trains that have to be cancelled, diverted, or shortly terminated is concerned, the Railway spokesperson said that total 27 trains have been cancelled, 9 shortly terminated and 19 diverted.
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