Train service suspended for security reasons in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 22: Train service was again suspended for security reasons on Monday in the Kashmir valley, where separatists have called for a general strike in protest against Kulgam killings.

This was the seventh time that train service has been suspended in the Kashmir valley partially or fully since October 8, when first of the four phase Urban Local Bodies (ULB) polling was held.

Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed in an encounter by security forces at village Laroo in Kulgam on Sunday. However, immediately after the encounter, a blast ripped through a large number of people gathered there, killing six and leaving scores injured.

Train service remained suspended in south Kashmir for the second day today following a fresh advisory from police last night, a senior railway official told TNN.

'For security reasons we suspended train runs on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region yesterday,' he said, adding that no train will chug today also.

He said train service which was normal in north Kashmir on Sunday has also been suspended today. No train will run on Srinagar-Badgam-Baramulla in north Kashmir track.

Trains witness heavy rush of passengers on Monday morning as people resume their normal activities after Sunday, he said. The Railway department is acting on the advice of local administration, particularly police since the safety and security of passenger was important.

He said in the past railway suffered losses worth crores of rupees in violence during protests and hartals. However, train service has become very popular as it is cheap, fast and safe against other mode of transport available in the valley.