PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, June 17: Train services were affected for several hours on the Kharagpur-Tatanagar and Tatanagar- Chakradharpur section of South Eastern Railway (SER) this morning due to Agnipath protest by a section of agitated demonstrators at the Jugsalai railway crossing.
The protestors first tried to enter the railway station from the new second entry at the Burmamines-end. Unable to get success the protesters then moved towards the Jugsalai railway crossing.
The Tatanagar-Patna South Bihar Express which had reached Jugsalai was called back to the originating station apprehending trouble by the protesters. The train later left on its onward journey after the agitation got over at around 10.30 am.
Railway officials confirmed that the Tatanagar-Danapur Express was cancelled due to ongoing students’ agitation at various stations over East Central Railway jurisdiction.
Several other trains including the Howrah- Barbil Janshatabdi Express, the Titlagarh- bound Ispat Superfast Express and Howrah- bound Geetanjali Express which runs on the Howrah- Mumbai main route had to be detained for several hours at various railway stations under Kharagpur and Chakradharpur railway divisions of South Eastern Railway.
The Jhargram- Dhanbad local MEMU train was short-terminated at Tatanagar station. On its return journey, the train will leave for Jhargram from Tatanagar railway station in the evening.
The Tata-Asansol Passenger also had to be cancelled.
Railway sources said several other trains including Tata-Itwari Express and Howrah- Mumbai Duronto were stranded in different stations resulting in inconvenience for passengers.
Notably, as violence against the Agnipath scheme intensified on Friday, rail services in Bihar were disrupted, leaving commuters stranded.
Operations of nearly 200 trains including in East Coast Railway and other railway zones were hit as the protesters blocked the railway track demanding withdrawal of the central government scheme.
