Jat agitation: Railways suffers Rs 55.92-crore loss

Railways has suffered a loss of Rs 55.92 crore (Rs 559.2 million) because of damage to property, cancellation of 2,314 trains and tickets were cancelled during the recent Jat agitation, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Wednesday.

"The total loss suffered by Railways on account of damage to property and cancellation of tickets during the recent Jat agitation is about Rs 55.92 crore," he said in Lok Sabha.

Replying to questions, the minister said during the period of active agitation from February 12-24, a total of 2,134 trains (1,033 Mail/Express and 1,101 passenger) were fully cancelled and 259 Mail/ Express trains were diverted.

In addition to this, 430 trains (229 Mail/ Express and 201 passenger) were partially cancelled.

Prabhu said policing on Railways was a state subject and crime prevention, registration of cases, their investigation in Railway premises as well as on running trains are the statutory responsibility of the state police which they discharge through Government Railway Police of the state concerned.

However, Railway Protection Force supplements the efforts of GRP by deploying their staff to escort important trains in affected areas and for access control duties at important and sensitive railway stations.

There was no negligence on the part of Railway Protection Force, he said, adding there is no mechanism in Railways for recovery of damage from those who indulged in riots, arson and looting or damage to public property.

Image: Buses set on fire in Sonepat. Photograph: Rajesh Sood/PTI