Panchayat polls: Train service again suspended for security reasons in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 17: Train service was suspended again on Saturday for security reasons in Kashmir valley, where separatists have called for a general strike on the first of the nine-phased Panchayat election being held today.

All train runs will remain suspend in Kashmir valley on Saturday as a fresh advisory was received from police last night, a senior railway official told TNN.

Therefore, he said, no train will run on Srinagar-Badgam and Baramulla in north Kashmir today. Similarly, no train will chug on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region.

'We cannot help it, since we have to act as per advisory received from the police,' he said, adding it is the passengers who suffer when train service is suspended.

Train service, which is economical, safe and fast against other modes of transport, has become very popular, particularly among passengers travelling daily from north to south and Banihal or vice-versa.

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