Railways cancels 68 trains in view of farmers agitation in Punjab
Darpan News Desk IANS, 23 Aug, 2021 10:47 AM
New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) The Railways on Monday said that it has cancelled 68 trains amid the farmers agitation in several parts of Punjab.
A Northern Railway spokesperson said that due to farmers agitation in Ferozpur division of Punjab, it has cancelled 68 train including two Vande Bharat and Rajdhani each, four Shatabdi Express, one Duranto, and two Janshatabdi Express trains.
The official said that it has diverted 10 trains and short originated 12 trains in the wake of farmers' protest.
The Railways also short terminated seven trains.
Agitating sugarcane farmers in Punjab have blocked highway, and railway tracks in Jalandhar, demanding clearance of their dues since August 19.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has ordered Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) to cancel or revisit all the "one-sided" pacts with private companies that are not contractually obligated to supply sufficient power to meet the state's peak demand during the paddy sowing and summer season.
The new leadership team, led by state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, had called on the Chief Minister and submitted a letter listing out some issues as needing urgent settlement.
The bodies of Khare Besra, 75 and his wife Curki Devi, 70, were recovered from Baragarda jungle of Giridih. The old couple, residents of Kumharlalo panchayat, had gone into the jungle on Saturday but had not returned and other villagers had filed a missing report with police.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review the demands of the striking employees, he expressed concern over their continued agitation, which has severely impacted the functioning of various state government departments.
The opposition has been continuously attacking the government after it told the Parliament on July 20 that states have not reported any death due to oxygen during the second wave.