Indian Railways turns 167 years old tomorrow (April 16), and for the first time in all these years, it won’t be ferrying passengers on its birthday.
Since March 25, when the coronavirus pandemic prompted a nationwide lockdown, the transporter has suspended all its passenger services.
“Never ever in its history, there has been such a long interruption of services. Not during the World Wars, not during the 1974 railway strike, or any other national calamity or natural disaster,” the Mid-Day tabloid today quoted an Indian Railways spokesperson as saying.
Services had resumed within hours even after the Mumbai train bombings in July 2006.
The first Indian Railways passenger train was flagged off on April 16, 1853, from Mumbai to nearby Thane.
Meanwhile, some trains have been converted into coronavirus isolation wards by the government.
