Title - LONG-AWAITED RAIL LINK INAUGURATED Celebrations aplenty in Abohar, Fazilka

Fazilka : The significance of the vital Fazilka-Abohar rail link could be estimated from the fact that nearly 10,000-strong crowd comprising residents of Fazilka and surrounding areas thronged the local railway station to welcome the inaugural arrival of the Abohar-Fazilka passenger train here today.As the fully-loaded six bogies of the train carrying VIPs and passengers on board reached Fazilka, the enthusiastic crowd cheered the historical event.The train flagged off from Abohar by the Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa reached Fazilka about half an hour behind the schedule.As the train chugged out from Abohar railway station was welcomed at Burj Muhar, Chuhriwala Dhanna, Ghallu, Khui Khera and Jandwala Kharta stations with people dancing to drum beats.“Lakhs of residents of Fazilka and Abohar towns and surrounding areas have realised their long-cherished dream as the rail link between the two towns has become operational. The six-decade old demand has been met,” said Raj Kishore Kalra, spokesperson of the Sanjha Morcha that spearheaded a relay hunger strike movement at Fazilka.An all-religions prayer (sarv dharma prarthna) was performed at the railway station on the arrival of the train at around 12.45 pm.NGOs distributed ‘ladoos’ and Fazilka’s famous sweet ‘Tosha’ at the overcrowded platforms of Fazilka railway stations. A langar was also arranged on the occasion.