Title - Stirs over statehood demands hit train services

GUWAHATI  – Train services in the State were disrupted for the fourth consecutive day due to stirs over statehood demands in lower Assam and Karbi Anglong, with as many as 10 local and intercity trains being cancelled and some long-distance ones running behind schedule.Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials said 13 trains were cancelled, while the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani, the Brahmaputra Mail and other long-distance trains were running late by up to 10 hours.But trains originating in Guwahati and bound for outside the State left mostly on time, they added.Most of the outbound trains were routed through the Goalpara-Jogighopa route this morning due to blockade by All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and pro-statehood supporters at the Bijni railway station. “However, after 12.45 pm, train services via Bijni resumed after the tracks were cleared,” an NFR official said.

In view of the prevailing tense situation in Karbi Anglong, the long-distance trains from upper Assam were brought in convoys and this resulted in delays.

“Each convoy was headed by security pilot in a goods train which was followed by three trains at regular distance to prevent any sabotage. The convoy operated between the stations of Lumding and Furkating,” the official said.

According to him, till 6 pm, the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani was running 10 hours late, the Dibrugarh-Delhi Brahmaputra Mail by seven hours, the Dibrugarh-Howrah Kamrup Express by 10 hours and the Dibrugarh-Chennai Express by five hours.

Meanwhile, the delay in train services caused misery to commuters. “I had booked my reservation in the Rajdhani Express for New Delhi, which was scheduled to depart at 7.05 am. When I reached the station this morning I found that the train was running five hours late. As my residence is not very far from the station I returned home. Later I called up ‘inquiry’ and was informed that the train will only depart around 4 pm. I again reached the station and it is now 5 pm but there is still no sign of the train,” said K Kakati, a photo-journalist working for a national news channel.

Dinesh Sharma, along with a group of eight kaanwariyas, has booked tickets for Sultanganj in the Brahmaputra Mail. “The railway authorities have made no arrangements at all,” said Sharma, who along with his group, spent time in the platform.