Image Source: Agencies

Scores of passengers, including pilgrims, were stranded at Jammu and Katra railway stations on Friday as seven trains were canceled and 13 diverted following the so-called 'rail rock' agitation by farmers in different parts of Punjab. A large number of passengers were stranded at the Jammu railway station on Friday. PTI
Members of various farmers' bodies began a three-day agitation on Thursday to press for their demands, such as a financial package to compensate for the damage caused by the recent floods, a legal guarantee for marine spatial planning, and debt relief. As part of the protest, farmers squatted on train tracks in many places including Moga, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Tarn Taran, Sangrur, Patiala, Ferozepur, Bathinda, and Amritsar. "That fanaticism has affected some trains, but 60-70% of trains run on detour lines. Officials were on continuous duty to control train traffic and ensure minimum inconvenience to passengers, said Prateek Shrivastav, a senior railway official. So far, 13 trains have been diverted and seven canceled due to the frenzy, railway officials said. Shrivastav said that the agitation directly affected Ambala and Firozepur railway sections.

According to an official at the Katra railway station, 15,000 to 20,000 people arrive every day. "70% of them are pilgrims. He said that some trains have been damaged due to these disturbances and most of the trains are being diverted to the ferry.

However, the number of passengers stuck at Jammu and Katra railway stations is increasing. They say they are annoyed. "We're stuck. We don't know what to do. We would have reached home. But now there is talk of trains being diverted... This is a problem for us,” said Arvind Kumar from Gorakhpur.