Thar Express resumes journey

Jaipur, Feb 17 (UNI) The Thar Express between Munabao in India and Khokhrapar in Pakistan resumed its journey today after a gap of six months following floods in Barmer in August last year.

S B Gandhi, deputy general manager, North-Western Railways, told UNI the link train with Pakistan chugged off from Jodhpur around 0100 hrs last night for Munabao.

The train had only 71 passengers onboard as against a capacity of 400 with 65 reserved passengers and 7 non-reserved ones, Mr gandhi said.

The link train reached Munabao at 0700 hrs today morning and resumed its journey to Pakistan after a halt for three hours as the passengers were to get their immigration and custom check done.

Thar Express on its return will have India-bound passengers onboard for Munabao around 1200 hrs. The link train from Munabao would start around 1900 hrs and will reach Jodhpur tomorrow morning.

At least 30 Indian railway employees on Thar Express have been issued visa by Pakistan for six months.

Thar Express was stopped as the Kawas railway station on its route was submerged in water, following floods in Barmer in August last year.

The railways and district administration was since then engaged in draining and pumping out flood water.

The railways repaired the tracks and laid new ones in place of damaged ones.

The Pakistan Railway also laid new tracks at the Zero Point railway station.

UNI