TNL Network
JAMMU, Dec 30: The farmers’ protest in Punjab caused significant disruptions for passengers, particularly Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims, who found themselves stranded at Jammu Tawi Railway Station as both rail and road transport services were severely affected by a nine-hour bandh.
Railway authorities were forced to cancel three trains—Malwa Express (Udhampur to Indore), Swaraj Express (Jammu Tawi to Mumbai), and Vande Bharat Express (Katra to Delhi)—while two others, Jhelum Express (to Pune Junction) and Himgiri Express (to Howrah Junction), were delayed by two and four hours, respectively. Despite the chaos, trains such as Sealdah Express, Rajdhani Express, Pooja Express, and Shalimar Express operated on schedule, according to Divisional Transportation Manager (DTM) Prateek Srivastav.
Adding to the turmoil, the bandh impacted road transportation, leaving many yatris and travelers stranded. The ongoing protest in Katra, spearheaded by the Sangharsh Samiti against the proposed Katra-Sanjhi Chhat ropeway project, has already paralyzed normal life in the town. Businesses remain shut, and local transport is largely unavailable.
In Punjab, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha called for a statewide shutdown, demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and in solidarity with farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border protest site.
For travelers like Brij Lal Yadav from Banaras, the disruptions have been overwhelming. “Ever since I arrived in J&K with my family, it’s been one problem after another. First, Katra was shut; then we couldn’t visit Patnitop due to police restrictions, and now the trains and buses are disrupted. We are anxious about making it home in time for New Year celebrations,” he lamented.
Another pilgrim, Manish Kumar Gupta from Varanasi, echoed similar frustrations, highlighting the challenges of waiting at the station in cold weather with limited resources. “With trains cancelled and buses off the roads, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for us to manage,” he said.
Despite the delays, Srivastav assured passengers that most evening and night trains were expected to run as per schedule. However, the disruptions underline the ripple effect of protests on essential services, leaving passengers and pilgrims struggling to navigate the situation.
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