Train movement severely affected by Delhi Bandh call

New Delhi, Jun 4 (UNI) Train movement in and around the national capital was severely hampered today in the wake of the day-long 'Delhi bandh' call given by the Gujjars agitating for ST status.

A Railway Ministry official said the movement of a number of trains, including Howrah-New Delhi, Sealdah-New Delhi and Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, had been blocked because of the agitation at places like Ajaibpur and Dadri.

The most severely hit were suburban trains (EMU and DMU), causing inconvenienc to the daily passengers travelling to the national capital.

Northern Railway also announced re-scheduling and diversion of a number of trains as well as running of a special train. The trains were rescheduled or diverted on the Delhi-Rewari-Bandikul-Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur, Jaipur-Bandikul-Agra Fort and Agra Fort-Bayana routes. Among the trains rescheduled or diverted were Delhi-Ahmedabad Ashram Express and some passenger trains.

In addition, Northern Railway, North Western Railway and North Central Railway pressed into service a few special trains to facilitate the passengers, who have been been affected by the ongoing caste clashes in Rajasthan.

The official said the movement of 18 trains had to be ''controlled'' (blocked) because of the agitation in Delhi and in its surburban areas.

Giving details, he said the movement of some EMU and express trains was blocked at the Ajaibpur, Wair, Chola, Sikanderpur, Sasni, Jalesar and Khurja stations.

The 2305 Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani was blocked at Khurja from 0849 hrs and diverted via Hapur and Ghaziabad, while the 2423 Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani was controlled at Daud Khan from 0852 hrs.

Further, the movement of 2313 Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani was blocked at Somna from 0900 hrs. The 2439 Ranchi-New Delhi Rajdhani was controlled at Aligarh from 0910 hrs.

The movement of Gorakhpur-Benaras Express, Howrah-Delhi Express and Bhubaneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani and four suburban trains were also severely affected.

UNI