SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 1: Irate villagers on Thursday morning blocked the Howrah-New Delhi Grand Chord line at Pradhankhunta Railway station under the Dhanbad Rail Division of East Central Railway (ECR) zone in protest against the cancellation Asansol-Varanasi-Asansol MEMU.
Hundreds of villagers squatted on the track from around 8.15 to 9.15 am, blocking the movement of 03556 Barkakana-Asansol MEMU.
Following the blockade, the movement of train no 63544 Gomoh –Asansol MEMU and 12020 Howrah- Ranchi Shatabdi Express were also affected.
Dhanbad rail division PRO PK Mishra said that villagers had blocked the track for 15 to 20 minutes in the morning but the movement of trains was restored soon.
Notably, the ECR zone has cancelled train no 13553/13554 Asansol- Varanasi-Asansol MEMU today in wake of Non-Interlocking works at Koderma railway station of Dhanbad Rail Division.
As the Dumka –Ranchi Intercity did not stop at Pradhankhunta railway station today morning, the passengers became angry and blocked the movement of Barkakana-Asansol MEMU and the villagers joined them. The agitating passengers said that since the Intercity had stopped at other stations, it should have made a halt at Pradhankhunta station too.
Pradhankhunta Panchayat chief (mukhiya) Kanhai Banerjee said due to the cancellation of Asansol- Varanasi MEMU, daily wage workers have to face hand-to-mouth problems. In such a situation, the Dumka Intercity should stop here till Non-Interlocking works at Koderma station are completed.
Getting information on the track blockade, senior officers of Dhanbad Rail Division reached Pradhankhunta station and pacified the agitators by assuring them to make alternative arrangements for the cancellation of Asansol – Varanasi MEMU.
