Train services run normally as Telangana blockade deferred

The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) Tuesday postponed till Oct 15 its three-day rail blockade scheduled to begin on Wednesday following which the railways announced that all train services through the turmoiled region would be operated normally.

The JAC announced that the rail blockade would now be effected on Oct 15, 16 and 17 instead of Oct 12, 13 and 14 as planned earlier.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the JAC but no reason was given for the postponement. This is the second time that the JAC has postponed its rail blockade. It was originally scheduled for Oct 9, 10 and 11.

Following the JAC decision, the South Central Railway (SCR) announced that the train services would run as scheduled from Wednesday. It withdrew its earlier cancellation of services.

The SCR earlier announced cancellation of over 100 trains in the Telangana region for three days, starting Wednesday.

After dropping hints that trains would run as scheduled and warning protesters of serious action if they blocked rail tracks, the railways had decided to cancel 59 Express and 42 slow-moving passenger trains as a precautionary measure.

During the two-day rail blockade Sep 24 and 25, the railways had cancelled 72 Express and 264 passenger trains.