Tripura, 21 May 2026: Thousands of local residents staged a massive rail blockade at Panisagar Railway Station on Thursday, demanding the restoration of stoppages for passenger trains operating between Agartala and Silchar.
The protest erupted over the continued suspension of train stoppages at Panisagar station since the COVID-19 period. Demonstrators sat and lay down on the railway tracks in a dramatic show of protest, bringing rail movement in the region to a complete halt.
Due to the blockade, several trains were stranded at Dharmanagar Railway Station and Pechartal Railway Station, causing severe inconvenience to passengers.
Police from Panisagar Police Station, personnel from the Railway Protection Force, and senior railway officials rushed to the spot to control the situation and hold discussions with the protesters.
Speaking during the agitation, protester Vikram Nath said that the Silchar–Agartala passenger train had traditionally stopped at Panisagar station but the stoppage was withdrawn after the pandemic and has not been restored despite repeated appeals to railway authorities.
“We submitted several documents and carried out multiple protests, but the railway department has not taken any action. People from all sections of Panisagar have united today and blocked the trains. Until we receive official assurance regarding the restoration of the stoppage, both Agartala–Silchar and Silchar–Agartala trains will remain halted,” he said.
Another protester stated that residents face major transportation difficulties because the trains no longer stop at Panisagar. Locals from nearby areas, including Jalebasa, Damchhara, and Bijeram, depend heavily on the station for daily travel and medical trips to Silchar.
The protesters warned that the movement could intensify further if the railway authorities fail to provide a written assurance regarding the restoration of train stoppages at Panisagar station.
