ID :
37907
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 10:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37907
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Number of Pak-bound passengers on Samjhauta declines
New Delhi, Dec 29 (PTI) In the backdrop of the heightened
tension between India and Pakistan, the number of people travelling on the Samjhauta Express --the only train that plies between the neighbouring countries-- has declined to nearly half than usual at this time of the year.
Against a total capacity of 777, the train which left Old
Delhi railway station for Pakistan last night had only 275
passengers on board.
"Among the total passengers, 209 were Pakistani nationals
who had come to India, while only 66 Indians set off for the
neighbouring country," S N Malik, Old Delhi Railway Station
Superintendent Delhi, told PTI Monday.
The lesser number of Indians travelling to Pakistan is
attributed to the government's advisory warning Indians "not
to travel or be in Pakistan".
According to the railway officials, Samjhauta Express,
the ten-coach train, was running almost full before the
Mumbai terror strikes.
The Samjhauta Express, plying twice in a week on Tuesdays
and Fridays from Attari (Pakistan) and on Sundays and
Wednesdays from Delhi (India), was started on July 22, 1976
following the Shimla Agreement and was the only rail
connection between the two countries until the reopening of
the Thar Express.
The train was discontinued for the first time on January
1, 2002 in the wake of the terrorist attack on Parliament on
December 13, 2001.
Service resumed in 2004 and was again suspended following
the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto 27 December, 2007 as a preventive measure to deny
militants from targeting the train, which was of great
symbolic importance for the two countries.
Earlier in February 2007, the train was hit by blasts,
killing over 60 people and injuring several others. Since
then, security of the train has been immensely beefed up,
officials said. PTI KNO
tension between India and Pakistan, the number of people travelling on the Samjhauta Express --the only train that plies between the neighbouring countries-- has declined to nearly half than usual at this time of the year.
Against a total capacity of 777, the train which left Old
Delhi railway station for Pakistan last night had only 275
passengers on board.
"Among the total passengers, 209 were Pakistani nationals
who had come to India, while only 66 Indians set off for the
neighbouring country," S N Malik, Old Delhi Railway Station
Superintendent Delhi, told PTI Monday.
The lesser number of Indians travelling to Pakistan is
attributed to the government's advisory warning Indians "not
to travel or be in Pakistan".
According to the railway officials, Samjhauta Express,
the ten-coach train, was running almost full before the
Mumbai terror strikes.
The Samjhauta Express, plying twice in a week on Tuesdays
and Fridays from Attari (Pakistan) and on Sundays and
Wednesdays from Delhi (India), was started on July 22, 1976
following the Shimla Agreement and was the only rail
connection between the two countries until the reopening of
the Thar Express.
The train was discontinued for the first time on January
1, 2002 in the wake of the terrorist attack on Parliament on
December 13, 2001.
Service resumed in 2004 and was again suspended following
the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir
Bhutto 27 December, 2007 as a preventive measure to deny
militants from targeting the train, which was of great
symbolic importance for the two countries.
Earlier in February 2007, the train was hit by blasts,
killing over 60 people and injuring several others. Since
then, security of the train has been immensely beefed up,
officials said. PTI KNO
