Disruptions caused by the ongoing Jat quota stir have caused a loss of Rs 200 crore to the Railways as the schedules of more than 600 passenger and freight trains were hit, a Railway Ministry official said.
According to the Railways, the running of 124 passenger trains and 500 freight trains has been affected since the launch of the Jat agitation on February 15. The financial loss so far due to the cancellation of passenger trains and disruption of freight service is Rs 200 crore, a senior railway ministry official said.
The agitation has affected train services in the Northern and North-West zones, the official said. “We had to cancel many important trains, including the Jammu Rajdhani and Vaishnodevi Katra train and Shatabdi trains to Chandigrah, Kalka and Amristsar,” said the official.
Train services between Asthal Bohar Dighal, Sampla- Kharawar, Rohtak-Gohana, Lahli-Kalanaur Kalan, Pilu Khera- Pandu Pindara Halt and Bahadurgarh-Asaudah, Narwana Kolayat, Madlauda-Kukhrana stations on Delhi Division have been affected due to the Jat agitation along with operations in the Bikaner and Ambala Divisions.
“There is one death of an unidentified person because of (suspected) bullet injuries,” said authorities of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science & Hospital.
Twenty-one injured people, including one critical, have been admitted to the hospital, its authorities added.
The Circuit House and the office of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Rohtak. were also attacked by the protestors who pelted stones on the buildings. A car parked at the IGP office was also damaged, officials said. A police vehicle and some private vehicles, including a two wheeler, were also set on fire.
Elsewhere in various places in the state, protestors deflated tyres of cars of a number of people trying to travel on various National and State Highways in the state. Haryana Roadways has suspended its local and inter-state bus services in the affected districts.
Mobile internet services have also been suspended in various districts including Rohtak and Jhajjar.
Besides Haryana Police, personnel of Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) personnel have been deployed in various districts, including the worst affected Rohtak.
Senior civil and police officers held a meeting at the state headquarters in Chandigarh to review the situation arising out of the violence being reported from various parts of the state.
Curfew has been imposed in Rohtak and Bhiwani city areas and Army was being rushed there as the situation is worsening.
Army units are being rushed to Rohtak and Bhiwani from nearby Cantonment at Hissar, 50 km away, said an official. He added that Army units are also being rushed from Jaipur for deployment in other worst-affected areas of the state.
Meanwhile, a resident of Bhiwani approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court pointing out the difficulties and harassment being faced by residents of the state due to the Jat agitation. The Court has sought a status report from the state government.