No train service in Kashmir for security reasons

Train service remained suspended for the 6th day on Saturday for security reasons in the Kashmir valley , where Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a general strike as on this first Indian soldier landed here after state's accession with Union of India 1947.

This is the 12th 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.

We are not resuming train service even today also in the valley as a fresh advisory was received last night from police, a senior railway official told UNI.

This is the 7th consecutive day train service remained suspended on  Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region since Sunday, when three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were killed in an encounter in Kulgam. Later JRL called for a strike on Monday in protest against the death of seven civilians in a blast near the encounter site.

He said train service which was normal in north Kashmir on Sunday remained suspended from Monday. No train will run on Srinagar-Badgam-Baramulla in north Kashmir track today also, he added.

It is the passengers who suffered due to suspension of the train service as they have to pay more besides travelling in other mode of transport was time consuming, the passengers said.

However, railway official said 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.