JAMMU/KATRA, October 10 : Hundreds of passengers faced inconvenience at Jammu Tawi and Katra railway stations after four trains scheduled to depart on Friday were cancelled at short notice due to anticipated congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations.
The cancellations were part of a wider disruption announced by the Railway Board, which cancelled over 250 trains connecting New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin with various destinations across the country ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest scheduled for October 10, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The cancellations affected trains scheduled to depart from their originating stations after 2 PM on October 9, as well as trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin between 4 AM and 2 PM on October 10. Several departures from these stations and local train services were also cancelled.
Passengers were seen waiting with their luggage at Jammu Tawi and Katra railway stations, struggling to arrange alternative transport. Many travellers said they had booked tickets months in advance but learned about the cancellations only shortly before their scheduled departure.
Narinder Singh, a passenger from West Bengal, said his family had booked tickets nearly two months earlier and needed to reach Delhi. He expressed frustration over receiving the cancellation information just 30 minutes to an hour before departure, leaving them with no clear alternative.
At Katra, passengers returning after visiting the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine also faced difficulties. Raj, a visitor from Dehradun, said the cancellation disrupted his travel plans to Delhi and onward journey to Dehradun.
Similarly, Raghav Kumar from Sitamarhi, Bihar, said he learned about the cancellation of his return train after reaching the station following his pilgrimage. He appealed to the authorities to arrange alternative transportation or provide financial assistance to affected travellers.
Other passengers, including those travelling to Mumbai, also expressed concern over the disruption, particularly families left without confirmed onward travel arrangements.
Meanwhile, the Jammu Railway Division said special arrangements had been made to assist stranded passengers. Help desks have been established at major stations, including Jammu Tawi, Katra, Kathua and Pathankot Cantt. Additional staff have been deployed to manage crowds, assist travellers and facilitate refunds.
According to a railway spokesperson, information is being shared through bulk SMS alerts, public announcements, display boards and social media. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have also been deployed, while a dedicated helpline has been activated.
Passengers have been advised to check their train status before travelling and seek assistance through railway helpline 139 or the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app.
