Passengers block railway tracks over repeated train delays on Howrah-Amta route

Train services on the South Eastern Railway’s Howrah-Amta branch were disrupted on Friday morning after passengers blocked the tracks at Bargachhia station, protesting repeated delays in local trains. The agitation began early in the morning when frustrated commuters, including office-goers and students, descended onto the tracks, bringing rail movement to a standstill.

Eyewitnesses said Howrah-bound trains have been running late for several days, causing daily inconvenience to passengers. On Friday, the situation escalated when several local trains were halted mid-way, leading to chaos at Bargachhia station. Passengers refused to vacate the tracks until railway authorities assured timely services.

Police from Jagatballabhpur station and the Railway Police Force (RPF) reached the spot soon after and tried to pacify the protesters. When repeated appeals failed, police reportedly used mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd and restore normalcy. Train movement was partially resumed after the intervention.

Railway officials said a technical review is being conducted to identify causes of the delays and ensure smooth, timely operations. They assured that efforts are being made to normalize services across the Howrah-Amta route at the earliest.