Railway service resumes in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Train service were resumed on Saturday morning after remaining suspended for security reason since Friday afternoon in the Kashmir valley, where separatists had called for protests after prayers against braid chopping incidents. “We have resumed all train runs across the Kashmir valley since this morning”, a senior Railway official told. He said all trains are operating normally on Srinagar-Badgam in central Kashmir and Baramulla in north, route after remaining suspended since on Friday afternoon. Similarly trains are also running on Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region, he said.

He said train service was suspended as per advisory received from police.

The service resumed again on the advice of police, he said adding Saturday and Monday normally witness heavy rush of passengers. Employees and businessmen, who are working or doing business in other places, are travelling on these days.

When asked about the inconvenience being caused to thousands of passengers, particularly those travelling daily in the train, due to suspension of train services, the official said Railway has nothing to do with it. We are acting only on the advice of local administration and police, he said adding the railway authorities can understand the difficulties being faced by the passengers.

Thousands of people in the Kashmir valley are travelling daily in the trains as the service is being considered safe, fast and cheap as compared to other mode of transport because of frequent traffic jam and costly.

Railway property suffered heavy damage during demonstrations in the past. Last year the train service remained suspended for about six months due to summer unrest in the valley.