Train service suspended in Kashmir for security reasons

Srinagar: Train service was on Monday suspended for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where polling will be held today in Kulgam district in the second of three phase election in the Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency (PC).
In the first phase, polling was held on April 23 in Anantnag district only which witnessed a voter turnout of about 14 per cent. Meanwhile, voters will exercise their franchise on May 6 in Shopian and Pulwama districts in third and last phase of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency.
Train service was suspended today as a precautionary measure following apprehension of violence today when polling was being held in Kulgam district, official sources told UNI.
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for a poll boycott and strike in Kulgam district only today.
They said no train will chug on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in Kulgam district of in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region. Similarly no train will run on Srinagar-Badgam-Baramulla in north Kashmir, they added.
He said normally trains witness heavy rush of passengers in the morning on Monday when people are resuming their normal activities after Sunday holiday. However, he said, railway department is acting on the advice of administration, including police, who are taking decision keeping in view the safety and security of the passengers, railway officials and property. They said in the past railway suffered huge damages to property, including railway stations, tracks and signals during demonstrations.
Train service is very popular among the passengers, particularly students, employees and daily workers who are shuttling daily from their houses to educational institutions and offices or place of work in different parts of the valley. It is also cheap, fast and safe mode of journey against other transport available in the valley, where majority roads are damaged due to winter snow, leading to frequent traffic jam.