Indian Railways has cancelled more trains to facilitate the movement of coal rakes to power stations, amid the country's persistent coal and power crises. For this reason, around 1,100 trains will be cancelled till May 24. Around 500 fast mail trips and 580 passenger rail excursions have been cancelled to help alleviate the coal shortfall.

On April 29, the Indian Railways announced the cancellation of 240 passenger trains to allow for the movement of 400 rakes around the country. According to media reports, the coal stockpiles at 108 of the 173 thermal power reactors have reached dangerously low levels. The surge in electricity usage caused by the heatwave has resulted in a coal shortage at thermal facilities.

Strikes by workers in various parts of India have also impacted many coal mines. Delhi, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are among the states with coal shortages in their power plants.

Meanwhile, 86% of Railways' open waggons are being used to transport coal to various power plants across the country. The Railways is using 1,13,880 of its 1,30,403 BOXN or open waggons for coal transportation, as part of a strategy formulated by the national transporter in cooperation with the coal and power ministries.

As of May 4, the railways had loaded an average of 28,470 waggons with coal per day to meet demand from power plants. A coal train might have up to 84 waggons in it. In Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, the railways adopted a novel approach of deploying long-haul trains for the purpose of running 3-5 trains together at 122 places.

IRCTC's Bharat Gaurav tourist train runs from Delhi on June 21

Railways launches this old service, passengers will get huge benefits

Know why coal miners' day is celebrated