Rail Roko affects 130 locations in Punjab, Haryana

New Delhi, Oct 18 (FN Agency) The Northern Railways said 130 locations and 50 trains were affected in Punjab and Haryana alone by the Rail Roko agitation called by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Monday demanding resignation of Union Minister Ajay Mishra. A special train that left from Ahmedabad with pilgrims to the Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine to Katra in Jammu was assigned a new route. The six hour-long protests aimed at halting rail traffic across the country forced the Railway to cancel and diverted several trains in both states. “About 50 trains in Firozpur and Ambala division have been affected,” said a Norther Railways’ statement.

“Northwestern rail traffic between, Bhiwani-Rewari, Sirsa-Rewari, Loharu-Hisar, Suratgarh-Bathinda, Sirsa-Bathinda Hanumangarh-Bathinda, Rohtak-Bhiwani, Rewari-Sadulpur, Hisar-Bathinda, Hanumangarh-Sadulpur and Sri Ganganagar-Rewari has been affected.” “Train number 04781, Bathinda – Rewari Special and Train number 04573, Sirsa-Ludhiana Special will remain suspended on Monday,” said the railway. Train No. 09415, Ahmedabad-Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Katra Special train service which has departed from Ahmedabad on Monday, will operate in a changed route via Rewari-Delhi-Pathankot to Shri Matavaishnodevi Katra. The SKM has been demanding the removal of MoS Home, Mishra, ever since a car in his convoy ploughed through agitating farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakihimpur Kheri killing four farmers on October 3.