Train service remain suspended in north, resumes in south Kashmir

We have resumed train service in south Kashmir after remaining suspended for three days, a senior railway official told UNI adding train service remained suspended in north Kashmir for the fourth day.

Trains will run between Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region as per schedule today, he said.

However, he said, no train will chug on Srinagar-Budgam in central Kashmir to Baramulla in north, he said.

He said a fresh advisory was received last night from police to resume the normal train service in south Kashmir. The advisory said train service will remain suspended in north Kashmir for security reasons, he said.

We are acting on the advice of police, he said the decision has been taken in the interest of passengers and railway property.

Train service in the valley was suspended from Monday, when there was a separatist strike call against the killing of six people, including two Lashkher-e-Toiba (LeT) militants in an encounter with security forces in Shopian on Sunday night.

A Chief commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) involved in about four fidayeen attacks, incuding Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu, was also killed in an encounter on Monday afternoon in Pulwama. Though there was no strike call on Tuesday, train service remained suspended in the valley.

However, the service remained suspended yesterday also when there was a strike call by separatists against the shifting of detenues to outside valley jails besides Shopian Challo.

Railway property worth crores of rupees has been damaged in the past due to protests and demonstrators in the valley.

During last year the train service was suspended for over 50 times partially or fully for security reasons. However, in 2016 train service remained suspended for about six months during summer unrest.

Train service has become a very popular in the Kashmir valley which is being considered cheap, fast and safe.