Punjab Bandh Today: Indian Railways Cancels Over 150 Trains; Check Details Here

On Monday, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) called for a Punjab bandh, leading to the cancellation of 150 trains by the Railways. The protest has been ongoing at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their march to Delhi was halted by security forces.

The bandh will see farmers blocking rail tracks from 7 am to 4 pm, affecting both passenger and goods trains. In response, Northern Railways cancelled several services, including three Vande Bharat Express trains—two between New Delhi and Vaishno Devi and one between New Delhi and Amb Andaura.

Impact on Train Services

Among the affected services are three Shatabdi Express trains running from New Delhi to Kalka, Amritsar, and Chandigarh. Other high-end trains operating in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir are also impacted. Additionally, seven trains are partially cancelled, 14 regulated, 13 rescheduled, 15 short-originated, and 22 short-terminated.

Ambala police have advised commuters travelling between Delhi and Chandigarh to consider alternative routes. Suggested paths include Panchkula, Barwala, Mullana, Yamunanagar, Radaur, Ladwa, and NH-44 at Pipli to avoid disruptions caused by the bandh.

Reason Behind the Bandh

Sarvan Singh Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Sanghrash Committee stated that the bandh is part of their ongoing protest aimed at pressuring the Centre to meet farmers' demands. He criticised the union government for not addressing these demands. The decision for a 'Punjab bandh' was made last week by both Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

The protests highlight ongoing tensions between farmers' groups and authorities over unmet demands.