Jodhpur: Hundreds of Pakistani nationals have been stranded here after the Thar Express connecting the desert state with Pakistan's Sindh province was cancelled due to security reasons in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Most of the Pakistani nationals are a worried lot as their visa is to expire in a day or two. The train was scheduled to leave Jodhpur last night and 465 passengers had booked their tickets to visit Pakistan but in the wake of violence incidents in that country, particularly in Sindh province, the train was cancelled till further orders.

Railways, however, has refunded the ticket amount to passengers. "Taking in view passenger security, Railway Board has decided to suspend the services of the peace train till further orders and we have paid back the amount to passengers," S K Sood, Divisional Railway Manager of North Western Railway conducting the train, said.

Salma Bano, a passenger from Karachi, said "we understand the compulsion of both the governments, but what to do? My visa is going to expire on Sunday and if it is even extended, I will not have sufficient money to wait till the next trip of the train in a city where I do not have any relations."

Another passenger, Habbibur Rehman of Pakistan and his dozen family members reached here from Madhya Pradesh to go back home as their visa is expiring on Sunday. But now they are not in a position to go to their relatives in Madhya Pradesh or wait till the next trip as they do not have enough money.

Source : PTI