Railway Board officials offer prayers at Baijnath temple

Ahead of the restoration of rail services on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow-gauge line, senior Railway Board officials offered prayers at the historic Shiv Temple at Baijnath in Kangra district, seeking smooth and uninterrupted train operations.

The rail services on the route were severely affected after a railway bridge on the Chakki rivulet near Pathankot was damaged due to heavy monsoon rains four years ago. Since then, train services on this track had remained suspended on several stretches, causing inconvenience to passengers and disrupting connectivity to the region.

Officials expressed optimism that after extensive repair and reconstruction work, direct rail connectivity up to Baijnath would be restored soon. According to the railway authorities, trials had been successfully conducted and the final inspections had been completed.

Over the past decade, the railway line had suffered disruptions frequently during the monsoon season due to damage to tracks and bridges. The authorities concerned said that special reinforcement measures had now been implemented to ensure the safety and durability of infrastructure, particularly vulnerable bridge sections.

The Railway Board officials from Northern Railway division performed rituals at the Baijnath temple before proceeding for a meeting. They reiterated their commitment to resuming full services without further delay.

Passengers and local residents, who have long awaited the revival of the rail link, welcomed the development and expressed hope that train services will resume in the first week of March. The restoration of this scenic hill railway route is expected to boost tourism, improve connectivity and provide much-needed relief to daily commuters in the region.