Agitation in Jharkhand throws train services off track, over 100 trains hit

Patna: Agitation by Kurmi community in Jharkhand disrupted train operations under the East Central Railway (ECR) zone, stranding thousands of passengers across Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of eastern India.Protesters were demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and inclusion of Kurmali language in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.The agitation on Saturday led to the cancellation, diversion and short termination of over 100 passenger trains. Railway stations at key junctions like Dhanbad, Bokaro, Gaya and Patna witnessed chaos.According to ECR’s Dhanbad division officials, train services were badly impacted.

Among the affected trains were Patna-Ranchi Janshatabdi Express, which was cancelled on Sunday, along with several other long-distance trains originating from Patna like Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express, they said.According to Dhanbad divisional railway manager (DRM) Akhilesh Mishra, the railways provided free transportation to stranded passengers from Chandrapura to Ranchi and Asansol to Dhanbad on Saturday.

Efforts were on to streamline services of long distance mail and express trains following withdrawal of agitation on Sunday, he said.“Train operations are being gradually restored. We are prioritising safety checks and crew readiness to ensure smooth service resumption from Monday onwards,” ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra said.He added special helplines were set up at major stations to assist stranded passengers.In addition, the railways has asked passengers to check the latest updates on train schedules through rail official portals. Full normalisation of services is expected from Monday onwards, the CPRO said.

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