Stir throws Bengal rail services off the track

The sources said that the agitators squatted on tracks at over 80 stations on the Howrah-Kharagpur, Howrah-Burdwan and Sealdah sections of the South-Eastern and Eastern Railway causing detention of several Howrah-bound trains at various stations.

The agitation was sponsored by eight students8217; wings of the front in protest against railway fare hike. A similar agitation was also organised by supporters of the Chhatra Parishad, student wing ofthe Congress, yesterday disrupting train services throughout the state for several hours. No untoward incident was reported till the evening, the sources said. While today was a holiday in the Central and State government offices, attendance was thin in other establishments due to suspension of suburban train services that transport lakhs of commuters daily.

Meanwhile, the Railways announced cancellation of 2019-up Shatabdi Express, 3017-up Ganadevata Express, 3317-up Black Diamond Express, 3015-up Santiniketan Express, 3049-up Amritsar Express, 5959-up Kamrup Express, 3029-up Coalfield Express, 3035-up Asansol Express, 335-up Visvabharati Passenger, 3009-up Doon Express, 3111-up Lalquila Express, 3103-up Bhagirathi Express, 5663-up Katihar Express and 3133-up Mughalsarai Express. Eight eastern railway trains from Howrah and five from Sealdah were rescheduled.