Title - Assam violence hits train traffic

KISHANGANJ/KATIHAR: Unabated violence in trouble-torn Assam has had its impact on running of trains in Katihar division of Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) as well, posing a plethora of problems to the commuters.The 15609/15610 Awadh Assam Express shuttling between Guwahati and Lalgarh, 12505/12506 New Delhi-Guwahati North East Express, were terminated at Katihar junction on Tuesday and were sent back from there. Guwahati-bound Rajdhani Express was stopped at Mansi on Wednesday, according to Katihar divisional commercial manager.12501 New Delhi-Guwahati Sampark Kranti Express, 15633 Amarnath Express, 15668 Gandhidham - Kamakhya Express, running through Katihar division and Bihar, and 12345 UP Howrah-Guwahati Saraighat Express, and 15657 Up Sealdah-Guwahati Kanchenjunga Express, both touching Kishanganj in Katihar division, were cancelled on Wednesday, railway sources said. The 15609 Awadh Assam Express and 12505 North East Express, which were diverted back from Katihar on Tuesday, were cancelled on Wednesday."Though Guwahati-bound Rajdhani Express was temporarily curtailed at Mansi on Wednesday, railways are looking at the possibility of taking it further," NF Railway public relations officer (PRO) said at Maligaon. Danapur-Kamakhya Capital Express is being taken only upto New Alipurdwar junction, the PRO added.

Abrupt curtailment and cancellation of trains to the sensitive north-east states and snapping their links with key areas across the country has just not caught the train passengers unaware but is also causing inconvenience to them. Adding to their chagrin is the lack of definite information about the status of the train. "We simply fail to understand why the railways cannot give exact information. It just keeps us on tenterhook," quipped a harassed passenger Motilal Sharaf at Kishanganj.