Railways cancels 529 trains due to Agnipath protests

Indian Railways was forced to cancel 529 trains today due to Agnipath protests turning violent. A statement said 539 trains were affected and 529 including 181 mail/express trains and 348 passenger trains were affected.

Protestors had called for a Bharat Bandh today and various parts of the country including Delhi were affected. Cancelled trains include 18 East-bound trains and 71 Delhi area-bound commuter trains (including return services). Four mail/express trains were partially cancelled.

States including West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand among others have increased security as violent riots are expected to spread further. Train services of the Western Railway zone were affected yesterday as well.

The Railways has suffered a major loss of property over the last five days due to the unprecedented levels of aggression against the Agnipath scheme. Protestors have been vandalising properties and setting fire to trains. 362 and 369 trains were cancelled on Saturday and Sunday.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that rail property belongs to the country and urged protestors not to damage it. He added that the Centre is listening to the protestors' grievances with sensitivity.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Railways had lost Rs 700 crore. Sixty train coaches and 11 train engines were burnt in the first four days. Chief Public Relations Officer Virendra Kumar of East Central Railway said the damage caused to the department is still being estimated.

The Bihar Police arrested 718 people in connection with the violence and 25 cases have been registered.