Special Train from Srinagar to Katra Rescues 600+ Stranded Passengers

Heavy rainfall that disrupted road connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir prompted Northern Railway to operate a special train from Srinagar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on Thursday, providing relief to more than 600 stranded tourists and other passengers. The emergency service was introduced after slow traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) left hundreds of travellers stranded in the Kashmir Valley, highlighting the growing importance of the region's expanding rail network during adverse weather conditions.

The special train was operated by the Jammu Division on the directions of Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal, who said the decision was taken promptly with passenger safety and convenience as the top priority. The train departed Srinagar Railway Station at 5:10 pm, made a scheduled halt at Banihal, and was expected to reach Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 8:15 pm, enabling passengers to catch onward train connections from Katra and Jammu Tawi.

Singhal advised passengers to check the latest train updates through the NTES mobile application, the IRCTC website, or Railway Helpline 139 before commencing their journeys, especially during periods of inclement weather.

The incident once again exposed the vulnerability of NH-44, the Kashmir Valley's principal road link with the rest of the country. During the monsoon, the highway frequently witnesses landslides, mudslides, shooting stones and flash floods, particularly along the Ramban-Banihal stretch, resulting in prolonged traffic disruptions and affecting tourists, pilgrims, freight movement and essential supplies.

The emergency operation also demonstrated the strategic value of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which has emerged as a reliable all-weather transport corridor for the Valley. Since the commissioning of direct rail services linking Srinagar, Katra and Jammu Tawi, the railway has increasingly served as a dependable alternative whenever road connectivity is affected. The route also features landmark infrastructure, including the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, significantly strengthening year-round connectivity to Kashmir.

The special service comes during one of the busiest travel periods in the region, with thousands of visitors heading to destinations such as Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, while pilgrim traffic to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and the annual Amarnath Yatra remains high. Ensuring uninterrupted transport connectivity has therefore become critical for tourism, pilgrimage and local commerce.

Railway officials said the Jammu Division has been operating special train services from time to time to minimise inconvenience during emergencies and adverse weather. The latest operation reflects Indian Railways' expanding disaster-response role in Jammu & Kashmir, where the strengthened rail network is increasingly helping authorities maintain connectivity and safely evacuate stranded passengers when the region's lifeline highway is affected by extreme weather.