Train services from the State were disrupted on Saturday with pro-Telangana supporters launching a three-day rail roko agitation in support of the Statehood demand.
Several Congress and TRS leaders were taken into preventive custody today, when they squatted on railway tracks to disrupt rail services. Scores of pro-Telangana protesters staged demonstrations near railway stations in Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Adilabad and Khammam districts.
The South Central Railways either cancelled or rescheduled several train services in the region, including Secunderabad-Kazipet, Secunderabad-Wadi, Vikarabad-Parli, Secunderabad-Mudkhed, Vijayawada-Kazipet-Ballarshah and Dornakal-Manuguru services. About 120 services were either cancelled or rescheduled for the three-day period.
The Hyderabad-Mumbai Express scheduled to depart Hyderabad at 8.40 p.m. today has been restored and rescheduled to depart at 9.30 p.m. and the Mumbai-Hyderabad Express scheduled to depart Mumbai on Sunday will run up to Hyderabad, according to a SC Railway press release.
Govt staff toughen stand
Meanwhile, State Government employees, who have been on an indefinite strike for the past 33 days, hardened their stand, stating that they would not call off their agitation till the Centre announced the creation of Telangana State within a time frame.
The Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee leaders made it clear that they would not give up till their demand for a separate statehood was met.
Power crisis
The power crisis in the State worsened with AP Discoms supplying about 230 mt during the day, against the demand of 272 MU. “The shortfall of about 42 MU was managed by imposing power cuts to domestic sector during day time, two-day power holiday to industries and one hour supply restriction to agriculture,” according to the Government sources.
APTransco made total purchases of 17.69 MU from all sources at a cost of about Rs 7.8 crore for the day.