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The East Central Railway on Wednesday reported that 17 train services were disrupted following protest activities by members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and allied parties of the Bihar Mahagathbandhan.
According to railway officials, various protest actions, including demonstrations, sloganeering, and train blockades (rail roko), staged across major railway stations in the Samastipur, Danapur, DDU, and Sonpur divisions.
In the Samastipur Division, up to 50 protestors were seen shouting slogans and marching at stations such as Narkatiaganj, Darbhanga, Dholi, Madhubani, and Jaynagar, causing operational delays ranging from 15 to 50 minutes.
In the Danapur Division, demonstrators blocked tracks by displaying banners, leading to significant disruptions at Bihta, Phulwariya, and Arrah stations. Officials reported delays of up to 100 minutes, the longest among all divisions.
Under the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Division, stations like Gaya and Rafi Ganj were impacted by protests and rail blockades, with trains delayed by up to 40 minutes.
The Sonpur Division experienced the least disruption, with only minor delays of around 8 minutes reported at Khmariya station.
Railway authorities confirmed that no incidents of damage, arson, or violence were reported at any of the protest sites.
The protests in Bihar were organised in opposition to the Lok Sabha by-election re-polling, which is being conducted under the supervision of the Election Commission of India.
| Division | Affected Stations | Type of Protest | Impact on Train Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samastipur | Narpatiyaganj, Darbhanga, Dholi, Madhubani, Jaynagar | Sloganeering, protest marches | Delays of 15–50 minutes |
| Danapur | Bihta, Phulwariya, Ara | Rail roko, banners on tracks, sloganeering | Delays of 40–100 minutes; several trains held up |
| DDU | Gaya, Rafi Ganj | Rail roko, demonstrations | Delays of 10–40 minutes |
| Sonpur | Khmariya | Protest gathering, sloganeering | Minor delay (7–8 minutes) |
Meanwhile, in Telangana, Telangana Jagruthi president K. Kavitha announced on Tuesday that a ‘Rail Roko’ protest will be held across the state on July 17, demanding the implementation of 42 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)—a measure passed earlier this year by the Telangana State Assembly.
Speaking at a press conference, Kavitha criticised the Congress-led state government for the delay in approving and implementing the proposed reservation. She also stated that “not even a single train will be allowed to run” during the protest.
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