Stranded rail passengers stage dharna in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Passengers stranded in the Visakhapatnam Railway Station due to cancellation of Ordisha-bound trains staged a dharna in front of the Station Superintendent’s office, demanding immediate resumption of passenger rail services. Most of them had been waiting to board the trains since Saturday morning, having booked their tickets months in advance to go to their native places for Dasara festivities.

The passengers insisted on green light for the trains, claiming that the cyclone had already crossed Odisha and there was no damage to the tracks. They pointed out that express trains had been allowed to go to their destinations. The station authorities initially expressed their helplessness. CR Behara, a passenger, told The Hans India that they were eagerly looking to meet their family members at their native places, but had been left to fend for themselves on the platform for two days without food or water. Towards the evening, the authorities resumed some of the passenger trains towards Bhubaneswar, Patna and Howrah.