Nearly 40 Pakistani passengers stranded in Delhi: Pakistan High Commission

NEW DELHI: Pakistan High Commission here today said nearly 40 Pakistani passengers have been stranded in the national capital due to cancellation of the Samjhauta Express, and it was in talks with the External Affairs Ministry to provide them visa to travel by bus.

In a statement, the High Commission said it is providing assistance and food to the stranded nationals.

"Pakistan High Commission has taken up the matter with MEA for alternative transport arrangements for the stranded Pakistani passengers," it added.

The High Commission officials said already a list of 18 passengers has been forwarded to the MEA with a request that they can be given visa to travel by bus to return to Pakistan.

Besides Samjhauta Express, several trains like New Delhi- Amritsar Shatabadi were also affected due to the continued agitation by the farmers who have blocked the rail route between Delhi-Amritsar.

The farmers are protesting against Punjab government's response to the white-fly attack on the cotton crop in the Malwa belt which led to over 60 per cent of the crop being damaged and losses of farmers running into hundreds of crores.