Train service resumes in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 11: Train service resumed on Thursday after remaining suspended on Wednesday for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where separatists had called for a general strike in the areas where second of four phase of polling was held in 49 municipal wards.

Train service was resumed only on Tuesday after remaining suspended on Monday when the first of the four phase polling was held in the state.

We have received a fresh advisory from police to resume all train runs in the Kashmir valley today, a senior railway official told TNN.

Therefore, he said, trains will chug on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region track. Similarly, trains will also run on Srinagar-Badgam and Baramulla in north Kashmir, he said.

Admitting it is the passenger who suffer due to suspension of trains, he said railway authorities are acting on the advice from the state administration. We cannot take decision to resume or suspend train service since safety and security of passengers besides railway officials and property was necessary as in the past railway suffered huge losses during strikes and protests.

Train service has become very popular in the Kashmir valley as it is being considered cheap, fast and safe against other mode of transport.