Farmers block highway, train tracks; demand sugarcane price hike

Several trains of the Northern Railway were delayed on Saturday as famers seeking a hike in sugarcane prices blocked rail tracks.

Amid the ongoing farmers' protest, several Northern Railway trains were delayed and some diverted, causing aggravation among passengers.

50 trains were cancelled and 18 diverted, according to the Ferozepur railway division officials.


Travellers alleged that no information about the delay was given so as to keep them prepared for the long journeys.

"I am travelling from Jalandhar to Gurugram. Midway I realised that the train has taken a different route and will take longer than the scheduled time of arrival. We were told that farmers are protesting due to which there is a delay," Gopal Tewari, a passenger, told ANI.

"I am travelling from Pathankot to Delhi. The train had arrived at the right time on the boarding station. However, it has been severely delayed. Feeding my child has become an issue now. Hot water and milk is not available. To feed the child we had to ask somebody for milk powder. The train was diverted without giving prior information," another passenger, Umakant Sharma, said.

Sugarcane farmers indefinitely blocked highways and railway tracks in Jalandhar-Phagwara, demanding the state government to clear of their dues. Vehicular movement from Punjab to Jammu was affected.

Earlier on Friday, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Northern Railway's Firozpur division had issued an official statement regarding the cancellation and diversion of trains due to the ongoing farmers protest.