Valley on the edge: Railway employees flee to Jammu

Jammu: With the Valley continuing to burn and the state symbols attacked every day, it's a death zone for employees coming in from other states.

As fresh violence was reported in Budgam on Tuesday, families of railway employees have fled to Jammu. They are not Kashmiris but people from other states who say they are not safe in the Valley as protesters are targeting government sites like railway stations.

Budgam railway station has been attacked more than once in the recent violence.

"There was a lot of firing going on yesterday, we were very worried and didn't know what to do. The roads were blocked," said a railway employee who fled from Budgam.

Meanwhile, railway authorities say this is a temporary step and when the situation improves, these workers will be sent back to Kashmir. But the many of the employees say they will never return.

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"We have brought them to Jammu with the help of railway protection force till the time the situation comes under control in the valley," said R S Ghera, Additional Divisional Manager Railways.

There is worry that if the situation in the Valley doesn't normalize quickly, it could trigger a wave of migration.

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