Among the numerous casualties of the violent statehood agitation that has swept the Darjeeling hills over the past 10 days has been the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) — an engineering marvel and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999.
The services of the DHR from New Jalpaiguri station to Darjeeling along the 87 km route was suspended for an indefinite period from June 12. Officials of DHR said the pro-Gorkhaland supporters were not allowing station masters to function. However, shutting down services has not protected the heritage railway. “On June 15, miscreants tried to burn the Gayabari Station but the locals saved the heritage property from any major damage,” Pranav Jyoti Sharma, Chief Public Relation Officer of the North East Frontier Railway said.
Two days later Ghum Station turned into a battle ground between the security forces and GJM supporters.
