Bharat Band: Blockade throws rail services off track in Haryana

Tribune News Service

Ambala, September 27

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s (SKM) call for Bharat Bandh on Monday affected the rail traffic after farmers blocked the tracks at different locations inthe state.

• Also read: Good response in Karnal, Hisar & Kaithal districts; life disrupted
• Bandh a success, claims Samyukt Kisan Morcha
• Partial impact in Sonepat, Panipat

According to information shared by the Ambala division, six trains, including Howrah-Jammu Tavi Festival Special, Jhelum Express, Shri Shakti Express Special, Mourdhwaj Express and Saryu Yamuna Express, were regulated en route.

As many as 24 trains, including Chandigarh-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, New Delhi-Amritsar Express, Swarna Shatabdi and Delhi-Bhatinda Express, were cancelled, while 19 trains, including Janshatabdi, Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi, Unchahar Express and Jalandhar City-New Delhi Express, were partially cancelled under the division.

Moreover, three Punjab-bound trains, including Katihar-Amritsar Express and Saharsa-Amritsar Express, were stopped at the Ambala Cantonment railway station.

Meanwhile, markets also remained closed in Ambala. A group of farmers, however, staged a dharna outside the SDM office in Ambala Cantonment as it was open despite the bandh call.

Farmers also blocked the Delhi-Amritsar highway, NH-344 near Hema Majra village in Mullana, Saha Chowk, Panchkula-Yamunanagar highway, Dosarka and Saini Majra toll plaza among several other roads in Ambala. Long queues of vehicles were witnessed on the NH, causing inconvenience to commuters.

A large number of passengers were stuck at the Ambala Cantonment bus stand as well. Ranjit Singh, a commuter, said: “The farmers should go and protest in front of the PM. I fail to understand what they will achieve by harassing the public.”

Functioning resumes later in the day

The railway traffic was affected due to the blockade but normal functioning resumed

after 5.30 pm. Senior railway official of Ambala division

Meanwhile, a group of farmers blocked the tracks at the Shahabad railway station in Kuruksehtra. Due to the blockade, Malwa Express and Dadar Express were halted at the Kurukshetra Junction.

Harrowing time for passengers

The govt should resolve the matter at the earliest. Also, the Railways should have cancelled the trains or informed us in advance. Passengers

They also blocked roads at nearly 25 locations, including NH-44 in Shahabad, Teokar border, Pehowa Chowk, Ladwa Road, Birla Mandir Chowk near Thanesar railway station and Karah Sahib.

Hisar: Meanwhile, the rail traffic remained suspended in the region as farmers and their supporters blocked the tracks at various points. They turned the Rohtak-Delhi track at the Bahadurgarh railway station near Tikri into a dharna spot. The entry and exit gates of Shri Ram Sharma metro station, passing over the Tikri border, were also shut.

Moreover, eight trains were cancelled and 12 were running late by over seven hours in Sonepat too.

Police: stir was peaceful in state

• The Bharat Bandh passed off peacefully in the state on Monday, said the police
• They claimed the impact was largely seen in the form of road or rail blocks, hampering the inter-city traffic movement.
• There was no impact in Gurugram, Faridabad, Narnaul, Rewari and Nuh, they said.