Srinagar: Train services remained suspended on Monday for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where separatists have called for a general strike on the death anniversary of JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged and later buried in Delhi’s Tihar jail on this day in 1984.

Train service in the valley was suspended due to heavy snowfall on February 7, after two trains operated on Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal tracks. However, train service was resumed on Srinagar-Badgam-Baramulla in north Kashmir track on Sunday, a railway official told UNI. But, he said, train could not be operated on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir and Banihal in Jammu region yesterday as a precautionary measure following encounter between militants and security forces in Kulgam. Five Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants were killed in the encounter which concluded last evening.

“We have received a fresh advisory from police not to resume train service in the valley on Monday as a precautionary measure,” he said.

There is no train will chug on Srinagar-Baramulla and Srinagar-Banihal tracks, he said.

Train services will be resumed only after receiving green signal from divisional administration, including police, he said adding, railway department has to act as per the advice of administration.

In the past railway suffered huge losses when demonstrators attacked trains and railway stations during protests, the official said.

Train service has become very popular as it is being considered cheap, fast and safe compare to other modes of transport. However, due to strike not only railways, people travelling in trains also suffered losses as they had to pay several times more to reach their destinations. (Agencies)