World | India
Kashmir's first train flagged off amid strike
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday flagged off the first train service in Kashmir, where shops, schools and offices were shut in response to a strike call by separatists protesting against his visit.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:29 October 11, 2008
Srinagar: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday flagged off the first train service in Kashmir, where shops, schools and offices were shut in response to a strike call by separatists protesting against his visit.
The train service in the Valley will eventually cover 117 kilometres between Baramulla in the north and Qazigund in south Kashmir, ringed by conifer forests and snow-peaked mountains.
For now, only a 66-km stretch is operational, officials said.
In large newspaper advertisements yesterday, Indian Railways said of the Rs20 billion project ($412 million): "A Himalayan task meets with success", describing it as a "vital link in national integration".
Hard work
Hundreds of workers have braved harsh weather conditions and militant attacks for about eight years to lay bridges and tracks across the mountainous region. An engineer and his brother were kidnapped by militants in 2005 and later killed.
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New Delhi says the train service is aimed at bringing development to the remote areas of the region.
"However, connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of India still remains a distant dream," said Abdul Wahid, an engineer on the project.
Roads were deserted except for security patrols yesterday in Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital, a day after at least two people were killed and about 75 wounded when police fired bullets and teargas shells to disperse Muslim demonstrators.
The strike was called by Kashmir's main separatist alliance, All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference.
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