This is an archive article published on September 25, 2022

Kurmis lift rail blockade in Bengal after 5 days

Apart from cancellation of over 250 express and passenger trains due to the agitation, many trains were short-terminated or short-originated, and several others had to be diverted via alternative routes

Agitators from the Kurmi community block railway tracks to press for their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, in West Medinipur district, on Wedneday. (PTI Photo)

By: PTI

2 min readKolkataSep 25, 2022 10:43 AM IST First published on: Sep 25, 2022 at 10:43 AM IST

A rail blockade by Kurmis, demanding scheduled caste status, at two stations in Adra and Kharagpur divisions was withdrawn after five days, an official here said.

The agitation since Tuesday led to the cancellation of more than 250 express and passenger trains, the railway official stated.

With the blockade now lifted, normal train services under South Eastern Railway (SER) jurisdiction will be restored soon, he said.

The agitation since Tuesday led to the cancellation of more than 250 express and passenger trains. (PTI Photo)

“The 123-hour-long blockade at Kustaur and Khemasuli stations since 4 am on September 20 was withdrawn at 7 am on Sunday. The blockade severely affected train services in Kharagpur and Adra divisions, inconveniencing thousands of passengers every day,” the SER official explained.