Six trains cancelled for 46 days

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jind, December 18

Foggy weather is all set to trouble thousands of rail passengers travelling on long routes with railway authorities cancelling six long route trains from January 1 to February 15.

The local railway authorities have confirmed a decision from their seniors in this context. The cancelled trains include the Shatabadi from Delhi to Ludhiana (9.05 am Jind) and Ludhiana to Delhi Shatabadi, Sarai Rohila to Sriganganagar (23.50), Sriganganagar to Sarai Rohila (5.05 am), Howrah-Sriganganagar (23.00), Sriganganagar-Howrah.

Since a majority of traders from Bathinda, Barnala, Dhuri, Sangrur, Abohar, Fazilka and many other towns travel for their businesses, the cancellation is bound to cause losses and harassment.

“Cancellation of trains is not the solution. The government should start more trains during daytime so that no one is harassed,” said Sham Sharma from Jind, who is a garment dealer and used to come back late at night to Sarai Rohila.

Some migrants from Bihar and UP said the cancellation of trains will also create problems for them.

“Trains are the easiest and cheapest mode of travelling for us. The Howrah-bound trains go through my home town Bihta in Patna district. But after January 1, we will have to board trains from New Delhi,” said Shankar, a Bihari migrant.

Suresh, who works as plumber in Jind city, said that he had planned a visit to his native place Mathura in January with his family, but has now postponed it.

Station superintendent Anil Yadav said the six trains have been cancelled due to the foggy conditions. They would be restarted after February 15,” he said.