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36-hour rail blockade in Telangana ends, commuters relieved

The 36-hour-long 'rail roko' agitation in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, called by the Telangana political Joint Action Committee, ended on Sunday evening, bringing relief to hapless commuters.

As a part of the 'Sakal Janula Samme' (general strike by all sections of society) for separate Telangana state, the Joint Action Committee had enforced rail-blockade since Saturay morning.

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36-hour rail blockade in Telangana ends, commuters relieved

With the blockade coming to an end, South Central Railway announced restoration of a few passenger trains from Secunderabad station in Hyderabad and other places, from Sunday night.However, the general strike, which entered 13th day on Sunday, continues.

"The rail roko programme was a huge success," T-JAC chairman M Kodandaram said, adding that the future course of action would depend on the response of the government over Telangana issue.

36-hour rail blockade in Telangana ends, commuters relieved

Earlier in the day, as a part of the rail roko, agitators including TRS and BJP activists continued demonstrations, squatted on railway tracks and held sit-ins at stations at several places across Telangana districts and Hyderabad city.Telangana supporters also organised Vanta Varpu (mass cooking) on tracks and platforms.

Cultural programmes and protests were held in Medak, Nalgonda, Adilabad, Mahabubnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad and other Telangana districts.

36-hour rail blockade in Telangana ends, commuters relieved

Train services across the region had come to a grinding halt since on Saturday, with the SCR cancelling 55 express trains, diverting 55 and partially cancelling 48, besides cancelling 222 local trains.

As a part of the general strike, pro-Telangana outfits staged protests, brought out processions and organised human chains in all the ten Telangana districts and the state capital.