69 trains cancelled as agitation in West Bengal continues

At least 69 express and passenger trains were cancelled on Friday due to the ongoing three-day agitation by various Kurmi organisations in the crucial Kharagpur-Tatanagar and Adra-Chandil sections of the South Eastern Railway.

The rail blockade is causing extreme inconvenience to both long-distance and local commuters due to the rail blockade by various Kurmi organisations, which have been agitating over a range of demands, including recognition as a scheduled tribe, recognition of Sarna religion, and inclusion of Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

More than 225 trains have been cancelled since 5 April at Kustaur station in the Adra-Chandil section of Adra division and Khemasuli station in the Kharagpur-Tatanagar section of Kharagpur division, a South Eastern Railway official said.

Organisations claiming to represent the interests of the Kurmi people, who are primarily based in the Chhotanagpur plateau, which covers Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, In September 2022, the railroad track was blocked for five days at both of these stations due to similar demands.

Kustaur is in the Purulia district of West Bengal, while Khemasuli is in the West Medinipur district of the state. Kurmi organisations are protesting in various districts of the state, including South Dinajpur, Purulia, Jhargram, and West Medinipur. Kurmis are currently classified as OBC.

Among the trains cancelled on Friday are the 12262 Howrah-Mumbai CSMT Duronto Express, the 12860 Howrah-Mumbai CSMT Gitanjali Express, 12021/12022 Howrah-Barbil-Howrah Jan Shatabdi Express, 12152 Shalimar-LTT Express, and 12833/12834 Ahmedabad-Howrah-Ahmedabad Express, the SER official said.