ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: The closure of the Samjhauta Express, the only train link between the India and Pakistan, since January 1 this year, has caused huge loss in revenue to the Indian Government, besides adding to the travails of the Indian citizens desirous of visiting Pakistan, reports the Indian daily, ‘Tribune’.

The Indian government had snapped the rail and road links between the two countries after the December 13 attack on the Indian parliament.

Discontinuing the popular train service has caused a loss of over Rs100 crore in one year to the Indian exchequer as approximately 25,000 trains were prevented to ply between the two countries.

A loss of Rs25 crore has been incurred due to the discontinuation of train freight services while Rs48 crore were lost on account of the passenger ticket charges.

According to the paper, since the closure of the rail link the importers and exporters of the region have also suffered losses worth crores of rupees. Consignments worth Rs1 crore have been damaged as these could not be sent to Pakistan.

According to the report, at least 79 wagons, including the 10 belonging to Pakistan are still stranded on the Indian side as the service has been suspended since December 22 last year. Similarly 109 coaches are stranded in Pakistan.

The train service was inaugurated in July 1976.—APP