The Cauvery agitation in the Mysore-Mandya region on Monday completely paralysed train services between Mysore and Bangalore, driving thousands of passengers to despair.
Consequent to the rail roko by activists and farmers in Mandya, most trains were cancelled or rescheduled, which delayed the departure of outbound trains in the evening.
While some of the important superfast trains such as the Tipu Express and Chamundi Express were cancelled, the Chennai–Mysore Shatabdi Express was terminated at Bangalore.
Though 16222 Chennai–Mysore Kaveri Express arrived at the city station, the authorities were surprised to receive a nearly empty rake as most passengers had either disembarked at Bangalore anticipating trouble or had cancelled their journey to Mysore. Among the services that were cancelled or affected was the 16215 Mysore–Bangalore Chamundi Express, which is patronised by daily commuters. Hundreds of season ticket holders commute daily between Mysore and Bangalore for work and they were stranded as the train service was terminated at Hanakere.
The train returned to Mysore with some of the passengers availing themselves of leave as continuing on their journey to Bangalore by bus was not an option owing to the rasta roko.
The 16231 Mayiladuthurai–Mysore Express was held up at Maddur and the train which reached Mysore at 5 p.m. instead of its scheduled arrival at 9.20 a.m. did not have many passengers.
Similarly, the 56214 Tirupati–Chamarajanagar Fast Passenger was terminated at Shettihalli and returned to Bangalore. By evening, the Railway authorities used a scrap rake and rescheduled the Chamarajanagar–Tirupati Fast Passenger which departed from Mysore at 6.15 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.
