Farmers’ protest cancels 39 trains

Chandigarh: Thirty- nine trains were cancelled and road traffic was hit in Punjab on Thursday as thousands of farmers, seeking higher compensation for crops damaged in a white- fly attack, continued their stir for the second day.

Chandigarh, Oct. 8: Thirtynine trains were cancelled and road traffic was hit in Punjab on Thursday as thousands of farmers seeking higher compensation for crops damaged in white fly attack continued their stir for second consecutive day, even as unions spearheading the movement extended it for another two days.

According to the Railways, in all 61 trains were cancelled, diverted or short terminated on Thursday due to the ongoing farmers’ agitation.

Of these 61 trains, 39 trains, including express and passenger services, were cancelled, 12 diverted, nine short originated and one train was terminated as farmers squatted on tracks in several rail sections, officials said.

secretary general of BKU ( Ekta) Jagmohan Singh said the “core committee meeting of farmers’ unions decided to continue with their protest for the next two days”.

“We are unhappy with the adamant approach of the Parkash Singh Badal government which did not even thought of holding talks with the protesting farmers,” he said.

Commuters continued to face inconvenience as railway tracks were blocked at six places in the state.

The Railways said that the traffic was hit on Ba t h i n d a - S i r s a , Ganganagar- Ferozepur, Ba t h i n d a - B i k a n e r, Ludhiana- Fero z epur, Bathinda- Patiala and Delhi- Mansa railway track.

Farmers are squatting on rail tracks at Mansa, Shergarh and Rampura area of Bathinda, Pathrala area of Muktsar, Dagru area of Ludhiana and Mucchhal in Amritsar, Mr Singh said.