Patna, Nov 03: Rail traffic was disrupted for several hours this morning on the vital Patna-Kiul-Jhajha Section of East Central Railway when an angry mob protesting against railway employees squatted on the track at Hathidah section. Angered over delay in issuance of tickets to passengers queued up before a ticket counter, the mob locked the booking counter, prevented the station master and other signal employees from discharging their duties, tampered with signal systems and squatted on the track, railway sources said. Several trains, including Patna-Howrah Jansatabadi Express, New Delhi-Patna-Howrah Poorva Express and Delhi-Patna-Jhajha Lal Qila Express were stranded at various stations as a result.

No trains have been allowed to pass through Hathidah station from Howrah-Bhagalpur and Patna since this morning. The trains were either controlled at different stations or have been cancelled, sources said. Senior railway officials were camping at the spot.

Bureau Report