Rail blockade by Bodo organisations delays several trains in N Bengal

A rail blockade by several Bodo organisations caused severe inconvenience to many passengers travelling through North-East India, especially North Bengal, on Monday.

Many trains going to Assam were cancelled or delayed, agitating the passengers. The condition of the patients who were travelling in the trains was terrible, some of them were in serious a condition.

Bodo organisations called for the 12-hour ‘rail roko’ in support of their long-standing demand of creation of a separate Bodoland state.

From New Alipurduar to New Cooch Bihar Junction, several trains were stuck. Railway authorities said at least 16 trains were stuck and three were cancelled. Passengers vented their anger at the authorities, complaining that they were not attended properly.

Among the stranded trains were Saraghat Express at New Alipurduar station, Dadar Express at Fakirgram station, Okha-Guahati Express at New Cooch Bihar station, Amarnath Express at Dhupguri station, Jashwantapur Express at New Jalpaiguri station, Kamrup Express at Raninagar, Garibrath Express at Aluabari station, Rajdhani Express at Katihar station and Capital Express at Malbazar station.

Meanwhile, a rail blockade also took place at Diamond Harbour section of Sealdah South line. The blockade took place at Hotor station, where locals blocked the train demanding increase in the number of train in their line. The block lasted for five hours. The blockade begans at the Railway police station around 8 am. Later, railway authorities and police personnel interacted with the protestors and convinced them to withdrew the blockade.