Passengers traveling from Jammu and Katra to various parts of the country faced considerable inconvenience after four trains scheduled to depart on Friday were cancelled at short notice due to anticipated traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations. The Railway Board announced that more than 250 trains connecting those stations with destinations across the country were cancelled ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party protest on October 10, which demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Scores of passengers were seen stranded with luggage at Jammu Tawi and Katra stations, many having booked tickets two to three months in advance. “We booked our tickets two months ago, and our train was scheduled for today. We learned only half an hour to an hour before departure that it had been cancelled,” said Narinder Singh from West Bengal. Raghav Kumar from Sitamarhi, who had completed a pilgrimage to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, said he did not know where to stay or how to reach home after discovering the cancellation.
In response, the Jammu railway division set up help desks at major stations, including Jammu Tawi, Katra, Kathua and Pathankot Cantt, and deployed additional staff to manage crowds, assist passengers and operate special refund counters. Passenger information was disseminated through bulk SMS, public announcements, display boards and social media, while the Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police and a dedicated helpline were activated.
Officials advised passengers to plan their journeys carefully and seek assistance through the railway helpline 139 or the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app.
