NEW DELHI, July 24: The Indian Railways on Tuesday asked the Central and the State governments to providing adequate security in the violence-affected stretch in the State so that the trains held up there for over a day could be moved towards their respective destinations.

According to a press release, Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy apprised Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of the difficulties being faced by it in ensuring safe and smooth movement of trains in the state and requested them to provide security assistance, especially for the 54-km-long stretch between Srirampur and Salakati railway stations

The railway is making efforts to position affected trains at bigger stations so that the stranded passengers could be provided food and water, stated the release.

Till 5 pm on Tuesday, 26 trains had been cancelled. In addition, 37 trains had been halted at various stations on the route, resulting in trains running behind schedule.

Passengers who are stranded at the Guwahati, New Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar railway stations are facing lot of problems due to scarcity of food, water and other facilities.