Railways rolls out special trains for stranded pilgrims in Jammu

With most roads closed and trains cancelled due to heavy rains and flash floods, the Northern Railways has introduced special services for stranded pilgrims and tourists in Jammu.

National Highways, including Jammu–Srinagar and Jammu–Pathankot, along with several internal roads, have been badly damaged. Many bridges have also collapsed, leaving surface transport virtually paralysed.

With the number of stranded passengers swelling at Jammu railway station, Railways on Thursday rolled out special trains to provide relief.

Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, said a Jammu–Banaras special (02238) departed at 3.45 pm carrying between 1,200 and 1,400 passengers. “Passengers were very elated with the proactiveness Railways has shown in running these special trains under such circumstances,” he said.

He added that a second special (04680) Jammu–New Delhi service departed at 5.45 pm with 1,200 passengers after its rake arrived at the platform.

On Wednesday, Railways cancelled 58 trains to and from Jammu and Katra, while 64 were short-terminated or short-originated at other stations in the division after record rainfall caused extensive damage to tracks and bridges.

Hundreds remain stranded, most of them pilgrims returning from the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, where a landslide killed 34 people on Tuesday. Katra recorded 284 mm of rain in 24 hours on Wednesday.

Railway staff also arranged food and water and set up a community kitchen at Katra station for the stranded.