Rail link to Northeast cut off due to agitation in Bihar

Rail links from the Northeast to the rest of the country remained cut-off as Congress workers today squatted on the tracks and blocked NH 31 in Bihar's Kishanganj district demanding immediate transfer of land by the Bihar government to AMU for its proposed study centre.

Railway sources said at least 20 long distance trains, including Rajdhani Express, were stranded at various stations across West Bengal and Bihar.

They said Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, who is currently touring North Bengal, is in touch with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in an effort to have the blockade lifted.

Trivedi visited the New Jalpaiguri railway station and instructed the railway officials to provide drinking water and other amenities to the passengers of the stranded trains, they said.

However, passengers at number of stations like New Jalpaiguri and Malda complained that there was water and food shortage in the stations.

Among the long distance trains stranded were the Rajdhani Express at Aluabari, Kamrup Express, Uttar Banga Express, North East Express, Saraighat Express, Bongaigaon Express, Teesta Torsha Express, Capital Express, Kanchankanya Express, Puri-Guwahati Express and others.