Strike disrupts rail services in Bengal

Kolkata, Aug. 20: Traffic in the Eastern and South Eastern railway routes in West Bengal were badly hit on Wednesday owing to the 24-hour industrial strike called by the Left Trade unions.

Although the strike was to begin from 6 am, its supporters squatted on the tracks at various places since 5.30 am, disrupting movement of mainly in-bound trains, sources in the two railways said.

In the Eastern Railway sector, strike supporters blocked the tracks at 21 stations, holding up 20 long-distance Down trains including Lalquila Express, Kalka Mail, Doon Express, Gour Express, Kamrup Express, Saraighat Express, Darjeeling Mail and Bagh Express. The Up Darjeeling Mail and Gour Express were also stranded.

A few long-distance Down trains like Shaktipunj Express, Jansadharan Express, Mithila Express, Gaya Howrah Express, however arrived at Howrah station while the Muzaffarpur Fast passenger and Lalgola passenger arrived at Sealdah station, the sources said. South Eastern Railway sources said the 8410 Sri Jagannath Express, 2809 Mumbai Mail, 2129 Azad Hind Express, 8006 Korapu Howrah Express, 2814 Steel Express and 2510 Guwahati-Bangalore Express were detained at various stations owing to blockades by bandh supporters.

The 2101 Janeswari Express, 2840 Chennai-Howrah Mail, 2838 Puri-Howrah Express, 8616 Hatia-Howrah Express, however, arrived at Howrah. —PTI