Cancelled train resumes after passengers protest

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, March 26

Passengers of Vande Bharat Express protested at the railway station here today after the Railways had cancelled the train in the view of the Bharat Bandh call by farmers’ organisations.

The train started from Delhi at 6 am and reached here around 7.30 am, but for the blockade by farmers, the Railway authorities halted the train.

Railways asked us to get the refund

I had booked my ticket last month. On Friday, the Railways asked passengers to get the refund as the train has been cancelled. Is there any accountability? My trip to Mata Vaishno Devi had been planned long ago. I am not going back. — Sarika, Delhi resident

Apprehending that the situation won’t improve, the Railways cancelled the train and asked Mata-Vaishno-Devi-bound passengers to get the refund.

This caused an uproar among the passengers. They blamed the Railways for not cancelling the train in advance. One of the stranded passengers Sarika said, “I had booked my ticket last month. Today, the Railways asked passengers to get the refund as the train has been cancelled. Is there any accountability? My trip to Mata Vaishno Devi had been planned long ago. I am not going back.”

In the meantime, volunteers of religious and social organisations such as the Nirmal Kutia, Dera Kar Sewa, JBD Samaj Kalyan Samiti and NIFAA provided food and milk to the stranded passengers.

On getting information, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Veena Hooda reached the railway station and tried to pacify the passengers. She assured them of finding a way out.

The Railways finally decided to resume the train. Around 5.40 pm, Vande Bharat Express left for Katra. Station Superintendent MS Meena confirmed this.