Train services remain suspended in Kashmir for security reasons

Srinagar: Train services remained suspended for the second day on Thursday for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where separatists have called for a general strike today against the killing of four youths and injuries to others in security force action on demonstrators protesting near an encounter site at Kulgam, where a soldier was martyred and two others were injured.

Police said two militants, including an injured, who were holed up in the area for about 20 hours have escaped.

This was the seven time train service has been suspended in the valley for security reasons this month.

Train service will remain suspended today also for security reasons, a senior railway official told UNI.

A fresh advisory was received from police not to resume the train service for the second day in south Kashmir for security reasons. Therefore, he said, no train will run on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir and Banihal in Jammu region.

Similarly trains will not chug on Srinagar-Badgam and Baramulla in north Kashmir, he added. However, train was running smoothly on Wednesday in north Kashmir.

We are acting on the advice of police and civil administration, railway official said adding the decision to suspend train service was being taken for the security and safety of passengers and railway property.

Railway property has suffered massive damages in the past due to stone pelting and other violence during protests in the valley. However, railway remained first choice of people travelling between Baramulla in north to Banihal via south as it is being considered cheap , fast and safe.

Last year train service remained suspended for 50 times partially or fully in the valley.