This story is from May 6, 2019

8 hours behind schedule, train leaves 400 NEET examinees stranded

Over 400 students from North Karnataka could not appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2019 here on Sunday after Hampi Express they had boarded to reach Bengaluru where they had to right the exam reached the city eight hours late.
8 hours behind schedule, train leaves 400 NEET examinees stranded
BENGALURU: Over 400 students from North Karnataka could not appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2019 here on Sunday after Hampi Express they had boarded to reach Bengaluru where they had to right the exam reached the city eight hours late.
The train reached the city only around 2.36pm and many students rushed to their examinations centres but had to return after they were not allowed inside.
The students were required to be at the exam centre at 1.30 pm for the exam that began 2 pm. The train had to reach the city at 6.30 am.
Hampi Express (T No 16591) was scheduled to depart Hubbali at 6.20pm on Saturday but it started its journey only at 8.21pm because the incoming Mysuru-Hubballi express arrived 2 hours and 55 minutes late. The students who had picked Bengaluru for their exam center for NEET boarded the train at Hubballi, Hospet, Ballari, Koppal and other locations.
South western railways blamed the delay on route diversion and said the same had been informed in advance to the public and those had booked the train tickets were sent messages to the effect.
Many affected students aboard the train took to Twitter as it became clear that their career dreams were in jeopardy and urged the Central government to conduct re-examination for those who had missed writing NEET for no fault of theirs.
"@PrakashJavdekar sir we the students who are appearing for NEET 2019 from Ballari and Hubli cities to Bengaluru train number 16591 name Hampi Express. Thus, train has to reach Bengaluru city at 7 AM still we are in Arsikere (180km) far away from Bengaluru," Sai Srinivas tweeted.

A TOI team met the distraught students on the arrival of Hampi Express at the KSR Bengaluru City railway station.
The students said they were aware of the route diversion but did not expect the delay of the departure which derailed all their plans.
Keerthi C H, who is from Gangavathi and has secured 74% in PUC, lamented that her dream of writing NEET had fallen flat for no mistake of hers. "Who is responsible for this delay?" she said
A Madhukar of Ballari, who has secured 82% in PUC, said, "The train was supposed to reach Ballari by 10.45pm but arrived only at 1.45am. My mother waited with me on the platform for three hours," he said and demanded a re-examination.
While many of students gave up at the station itself, some of them tried to reach their examination centres but none was allowed inside.
Railways says route diversion was informed
South western railways issued a press statement, saying that the route diversion was informed in advance to the public and also sent through messages to those who booked the train tickets. "Hampi Express is presently being run on diverted route via Ballari-Rayadurga-Chikjajur-Arsikere-Tumakuru instead of the original route of Ballari-Guntakal-Dharmavaram-Penukonda- Yelahanka due to ongoing non-interlocked working for doubling between Guntakal-Kalluru . The diverted route is 120 Km+ longer and involves engine reversal at Bellary," it added.
About the delay in the departure of the train in Hubballi, the south western railways said, "This was done since the incoming pairing Train No 16592 (Mysuru- Hubli Hampi express) arrived 175 min late (2 hour 55 min) to Hubballi."
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