Train services remained suspended for the second day on Saturday in south Kashmir following damage caused to track by the youths who were protesting against the arrest of some youths during nocturnal raids in Anantnag district on Friday.

However, all trains are running as per schedule on Srinagar-Badgam to Baramulla route in north Kashmir, a senior railway official said.

He said all trains were halted following protests on railway track at Arwani in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district.

However, during the inspection of the track, several Track Circuit Operating Clip (TCOC) were missing, he said. This is the second time the TCOC were stolen during the demonstration as on May 9, 300 clips were found missing after demonstration at Panzgam in Anantnag.

‘We cannot operate trains till the track is repaired. It will take some time. Therefore, no train will chug on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region,’ he said.

Train services have become very popular in the valley as a cheap, fast and safe mode of transport, compared to other modes of transport available. On Saturday, when people go to their homes for weekend, trains in Kashmir witness very heavy rush.

This is the 12th time, when train service was suspended in Kashmir valley partially or fully for security reasons in May. Last month, the train service was suspended for eight times for security reasons. In the year, the service remained affected for over 50 times fully or partially.