Train service resumes in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 19: Train service resumed on Friday after remaining suspended on Thursday for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where separatists had called for a general strike against civilian killings, arresting of youth under Public Safety Act (PSA) and attack on media persons.

All the trains which run in the Kashmir valley resumed on Friday following a fresh advisory received from police last night, a senior railway official told TNN.

This was the sixth time train service had been suspended in the valley since the first of four phase of Urban Local Body (UBL) polls from October 8. The final phase was held on October 16 and counting of votes will be held tomorrow.

Train will chug on Srinagar-Badgam and Baramulla in north Kashmir today, official said adding therefore trains will run on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region.

We are acting as per advisory received from the police.The train service, which is cheap, safe and fast against other mode of transport, has become very popular, particularly among passengers shuttling daily from north to south and Banihal,he added.

He said that the railway authority cannot ignore the advisory since the safety and security of passengers and railway staff was important.

Railway suffered losses wroth crores of rupees in the past after demonstrators target trains, damaged railway stations and tracks in the past.