QUETTA, Oct 11: The train service between Quetta and the rest of the country, which remained suspended since floods hit parts of Balochistan about two months ago, was restored on Monday.

The railway tracks were washed away near Dera Allahyar in Balochistan and bet- ween Shikarpur and Jacobabad after the Sindh irrigation department diverted floodwaters to save major towns and cities in the two provinces.

Quetta Express, Jaffar Express and Bolan Mail carrying hundreds of passengers left the Quetta station for Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Karachi.

Passenger trains also arrived at Quetta from Karachi, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.

According to Railway officials, engineers and other staff had started the repair work after the floodwater receded and were able to restore the train service sooner than expected.

“Thank God trains have started running again from Quetta,” Khuda Bakhsh, a baggage carrier, said, adding the suspension of the service had affected his income.

Bakhsh said his family and those of other labourers spent hard days during the period when trains remained suspended.