Trains stopped; buses stay off roads; schools, business establishments remain shut

A near-total Bandh was witnessed in Amritsar and its surrounding areas as rail and road traffic was badly hit after various Sikh organisations led by Dal Khalsa blocked trains and buses originating and coming to the city. They were protesting against the anti-Sikh carnage in 1984 and demanding justice for the families of the victims across the country.

While schools and colleges remained closed, some banks were open but there was hardly any public dealing. Though no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the region, stranded passengers at the local railway station complained of harassment.

Members of the Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Action Committee, Damdami Taksal and Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) sat on rail tracks at Shivala Fatak, forcing Shatabdi Express to stop.

The Amritsar-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Amritsar-Nanded-Sachkhand Express, New Delhi-Amritsar Express, Amritsar-New Delhi Inter City Express, Amritsar-Hardwar Jan Shatabdi Express, Howrah-Amritsar Express and Ahmedabad-Jammu Express trains were cancelled. Commuters said though they were told by the railway authorities that morning trains would run uninterrupted, no train could leave the station till afternoon.

“There is a total chaos. We do not know if we should wait for the train to leave for Mumbai or go home,” said Rajesh Sharma, who was stranded at the station with family members.

Divisional General Manager (Railways) S S Bhullar said train services had become normal by evening.

Buses too remained off roads, though private vehicles and ambulances operated without any interruption.

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