Locals condemn militants sabotaging railway track in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR - The blowing up of a section of railway track in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district by suspected militants on Friday has been strongly condemned by people in the Valley.

The improvised explosive device (IED) blast damaged three feet of the track on the Qazigund Baramulla route, about 40 kilometres from Srinagar, on Thursday night.

Cutting across one’s own likes and dislikes, the locals termed the act as non-pardonable.

Javed Ahmad, a Srinagar resident, said that a major tragedy was averted as hundreds of passengers, including women and children, would have been killed had a train been running at the time of blast.

“I completely condemn the blast that has taken place here. This kind of incident should not take place. If a train had been crossing at the time of blast, nearly three to four thousand people would have been injured or dead,” Ahmad said.

The railway link to the Kashmir valley was a long pending dream come true for the locals.

Citing this aspect, people contended that the attack on the railway track is an attack on the development and economy of the region.

“Jammu and Kashmir was the only state, especially the Kashmir Valley, which was not connected by railways. Fortunately, with the help of the Union Government it has been connected. It is good for people. Such blast needs to be condemned in strongest terms,” said Niyaz Elahi, another local.

Although no outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the incident, but the pattern of the blast points towards militants being active in the Valley.

No casualties were reported in the blast.

Only one train runs every day on the Qazigund-Baramulla track, which was started last year. This 18-kilometre line is the valley’s link to Srinagar and the other important places in the egion. (ANI)