Bandh derails train services, passengers hit

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 27

All trains plying over the Chandigarh Railway Station were hit by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s call for Bharat Bandh. While five trains were cancelled, three others were delayed by more than eight hours. Evidently, passengers had a harrowing time. Hundreds of them spread linen sheets right at the entrance to the station waiting for their trains, while others took refuge at the platform.

Trains that were cancelled

Train number 02006 (Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Special) was cancelled between Kalka and New Delhi. Jan Shatabdi (02058) was cancelled between Morinda and Delhi, while Unchahar Express Special (04218), which runs from Chandigarh to Allahabad, was cancelled between Chandigarh and Ambala. Chandigarh-New Delhi Shatabdi (02046) and Chandigarh-Amritsar Intercity (04541), too, remained cancelled.

Train number 02006 (Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Special) was cancelled between Kalka and New Delhi. Jan Shatabdi (02058) was cancelled between Morinda and Delhi, while Unchahar Express Special (04218), which runs from Chandigarh to Allahabad, was cancelled between Chandigarh and Ambala. Chandigarh-New Delhi Shatabdi (02046) and Chandigarh-Amritsar Intercity (04541), too, remained cancelled.

Prakash Tulli, one of the passengers travelling to Delhi, said: “I had booked a ticket for my brother, who was to leave for Delhi due to a family emergency. But we’re going back now as the train has been cancelled. It’s quite troublesome, but I totally support the farmers. What else can they do, especially when the government doesn’t want to listen to them.”

Of three trains that were delayed, biweekly Chandigarh-Madurai Sf Special (02688) was delayed by more than 9 hours. Sachkhand Express (02716) was delayed by more than 10 hours, while Paschim Express was delayed by eight and a half hours.

Mathius Hansdak (40) was waiting for a train to Mumbai. He is suffering from last-stage stomach cancer and is being treated at Tata Memorial Hospital. “I have a chemotherapy session on Wednesday. I had already booked the train to Mumbai, but it’s delayed. I must reach on time to get proper treatment,” he said, while praying, along with his wife and daughter, for the train to reach there on time.