Nearly 20 trains were cancelled and eight were diverted as Kurmi community leaders had undertaken indefinite rail blockades at various Jharkhand stations from Wednesday.

However, the agitation was withdrawn at 6.30pm on Wednesday after a talk held by the Kurmi leaders with the Centre and the Jharkhand government.

Central president of the Totemic Kurmi Vikash Morcha, Sheetal Ohdar, said: “We have decided to withdraw the agitation after a talk with the central government and the Jharkhand government. The Union home secretary has called us for a meeting on October 2, while the Jharkhand home secretary has promised to meet us on October 5 in connection with our demands.”

Railway sources said rail traffic was disrupted in the Howrah-Mumbai section and the Ranchi-Patna section because of the blockades.

In total, 20 trains were cancelled in the South Eastern Railway zone. Some of the trains are the Howrah-Mumbai Mail, Bilaspur-Tatanagar Express, Howrah-Ahmedabad Express and the Howrah-Hatia Kriya Yoga Express.

Vande Bharat Odisha trial

Bhubaneswar: The trial run of Vande Bharat Express connecting the pilgrim city Bhubaneswar with the steel city Rourkela began on Wednesday.

The train departed Puri railway station at 5am and reached Rourkela station at 12.45pm.

On the return, the train will depart from Rourkela at 2.10 pm and is scheduled to arrive at 9.40 pm. The train will run six days a week except Saturday.

SUBHASHISH MOHANTY