Partial impact of bandh on train services

Patna: Train services were partially affected in the East Central Railway (ECR) jurisdiction on Wednesday as several Bharat bandh supporters staged rail blockades at multiple locations across Bihar. Major railway stations, including Patna Junction , Jehanabad, Ara, Bihiya, Sasaram, Darbhanga and Samastipur witnessed a partial impact of the bandh.

There, however, was no damage to the railway property or major detention of the trains.

According to Danapur control room sources, the bandh supporters stopped New Delhi-Rajgir Shramjeevi Express (12392), Sanghmitra Express (12295) coming from Bengaluru and MEMU passenger trains (63262/63229) from 5.50am to 6.20am at Bihiya station. The agitators moved away on arrival of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, sources said, adding the MEMU passenger trains were also stopped at Sachivalya halt and Jehanabad station.

According to DDU RPF senior commandant Jethin B Raj, the bandh supporters suddenly entered Sasaram station premises and stopped Bhabua Road-Patna Intercity Express (13250) from 12.23pm to 12.28pm. The alert RPF personnel later forced them to leave the station premises peacefully, he said.

Sonepur RPF commandant Debojit Chatterjee said the division more or less witnessed no incident of traffic disruption, except several bandh supporters trying to enter Hajipur railway station premises, before being stopped at the entrance point.

Samastipur RPF commandant Ashish Kumar said that the personnel dealt with the situation sternly at its key stations. However, Sitamarhi-Anand Vihar special (04097) was detained from 10.26am to 11.44am and Saharsa-Samastipur passenger (63343) from 11.25am to 1.05pm near Samastipur, while Bihar Sampark Kranti Express (12565) was detained for a while from 8.20am to 8.26am in Darbhanga before it left for New Delhi, he said.