Coal rake movement affected in Orissa

Talcher (Orissa), Feb 17 (PTI) The movement of coalrakes came to a grinding halt in Orissa today as local peopleresorted to an economic blockade demanding routing of allexpress trains via Talcher railway station.

A large number of agitators including the local MLA,Braja Kishore Pradhan under the banner of ''Talcher RailUsers Forum'' sat on blockade at Talcher railway station ofEast Coast Railways (ECoR) demanding that all express trainsrunning in Athagarh-Sambalpur section should be routed throughTalcher railway station.

Normalcy was restored after police arrested about 200agitators and movement of coal rakes resumed after theblockade ended in the evening, Angul superintendent of policeSanjay Bhol said.