South Central Railway cancels, diverts trains following anti-Agnipath stir

HYDERABAD: South Central Railway (SCR) cancelled 28 mail and express trains, diverted eight trains, partially cancelled 19 trains and changed terminal stations for two express trains till 8 pm of Friday, following violent protests by defence job aspirants which resulted in the death of a youth.

The train from Lingampally to Kakinada, Cocanada Express, scheduled to reach the station at 8 am was late by 11 hours 40 minutes, and reached the platform at Secunderabad at 7.40 pm. Most of the trains were delayed as well, according to a senior official. The train services which had been affected due to the agitation would get back to normalcy in two or three days, he said.

The SCR immediately swung into action soon after the protest turned violent and took steps to provide facilities to stranded passengers. Several incoming trains to Secunderabad were regulated or short-terminated during the agitation at nearby stations of Cherlapally, and Moulali, small railway stations in the vicinity of Secunderabad. While the agitation was going on, the SCR used all mediums of mass broadcasting to pass on the information to the passengers.

The SCR officials started restoration works for immediate resumption of train services from the station. The officials were put on high alert and additional manpower was deputed to facilitate stranded passengers. Security officials deployed additional forces and maintained constant vigil at the railway stations.