Train services affected in Bengal due to 'rail roko', dense fog

Train services in different parts of West Bengal were affected due to a call to disrupt rail traffic by Jharkhand Disom Party, coupled with dense fog in the eastern states.

The agitation by supporters of the Jharkhand-based party, which has a presence in tribal infested areas in parts of Bengal, forced the authority to either divert or short terminate or short originate a number of express and passengers trains, causing inconvenience to passengers.

Opposing land acquisition in tribal areas, the party had called "rail roko" and accordingly, its supporters blocked railway tracks at Indrabil, Kantadih, Madhukunda and Maluka stations.

In South Eastern Railway (SER), train services were affected on non-railway issues in Adra and Chakradharpur divisions, a SER spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the statement, Ranchi-Howrah Special was short terminated at Adra and would return back from Adra to Ranchi. Santragachi-Purulia Rupasi Bangla Express, leaving Santragachi on Monday, was short terminated suitably over Adra division and would return.

Shalimar-Bhojudih Aranyak Express leaving Shalimar on Monday would also be short terminated over Adra division.

Dhanbad-Tatanagar Subarnarekha Express leaving Dhanbad was run on diverted route via Purulia-Kotshila-Muri-Chandil, the spokesperson said, adding a number of trains to and from northern states of the country was also delayed including the Howrah and Sealdah Rajdhani Express trains by an average of 10 -12 hours, due to dense fog in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and parts of West Bengal.

Several trains have been rescheduled owing to delay in arrival of corresponding down trains.

--IANS

bdc/vd