Paris Olympics 2024 A few hours before the opening ceremony France Arson attacks on India’s high-speed rail network affected millions of passengers on Friday.
A source familiar with the investigation of the matter told the news agency AFP Railways Network attacks are the result of organized ‘sabotage’.
France’s railways department, the SNCF, said a “massive attack was carried out to paralyze the network of high-speed trains”. Several attacks were carried out simultaneously on the SNCF late at night.’
The department added that the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern lines were affected due to these attacks.
According to the department: ‘The arsons were started to damage our facilities.’
Traffic on the affected lines was ‘severely affected,’ the department added. This situation will continue till the end of the week. Repair work is in progress.’
SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Frando said that eight million passengers have been affected by this situation.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergaret described the attacks as a ‘heinous criminal act’ which would have ‘extremely serious consequences’ for rail traffic throughout the weekend.
He said that communication links with North, East and North-West France will be reduced to half.
SNCF said trains were being run on alternative tracks ‘but we will have to cancel a large number of trains.’
The South East line was not affected as ‘malicious operations were foiled.’ SNCF has asked passengers to cancel their journeys and stay away from railway stations.
The attacks were carried out as tight security arrangements were made ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris and important dignitaries, including three lakh spectators, were expected to arrive to watch the games.
In Friday evening’s parade, 750 athletes and athletes will travel six kilometers (four miles) down the Seine on a flotilla of 85 boats.
This will be the first time that the Olympics have been held outside the main athletics stadium. The decision comes at a time when security in France is on high alert in view of terror attacks.
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Paris At Par Naas railway station, passengers waited for more information about their journey. A delay of more than two hours was showing on the display boards.
A signboard in the departure hall read, ‘Normal traffic is expected to resume from Monday July 29.’
Passengers were told over the station’s loudspeakers that the conditions for exchanging and returning tickets would be more relaxed.
Kathryn Abbey, a 30-year-old graphic designer, hoped her trip would only be delayed and not cancelled. He had booked a ticket to Biarritz, a popular resort on the southwest coast, a week ago.
‘This is my only holiday of the year,’ said Abby, who was traveling with her husband.
She said, ‘I have been waiting for this moment for a year. I will be very disappointed if this tour is cancelled. Especially when you look at how Paris is looking in the run-up to the Olympic Games.’
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2024-07-27 09:50:07