Rail service to remain suspended in Kashmir from 1300 hrs

Srinagar, Oct 13: All train runs will be suspended from 1300 hrs for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where separatists had called for protests after Friday prayers against braid chopping incidents. All trains are running smoothly as per scheduled in the valley since early this morning, a top railway official told UNI. However, he said, as per directions from the administration, all train runs will be suspended from 1300 hrs. Therefore, he said, no train will ply on Srinagar-Badgam in the central Kashmir to Baramulla in the afternoon. Similarly train runs will remain suspended on Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region. Thousands of people in the valley are travelling daily by the trains as the service is being considered safe, fast and cheap as compared to other modes of transport because of frequent traffic jams and cost. Railway property suffered heavy damage during demonstrations in the past. Last year, the train service remained suspended for about six months due to summer unrest in the valley. UNI