SRINAGAR 23 Jul : Northern Railway on Thursday launched a special train service between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to assist passengers affected by the continued closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to heavy rain, landslides and shooting stones.
According to an official communication, the additional service was introduced after a request from Commercial Control, Jammu, in response to heavy passenger demand caused by traffic restrictions and slow movement on the highway.
The special train will leave Srinagar at 5:00 pm and reach Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 8:15 pm, travelling via Banihal. On the return journey on July 24, it will depart Katra at 8:45 am and arrive in Srinagar at 11:50 am.
Railway authorities said the train will operate non-stop between Banihal and Katra in both directions and will be run using an eight-coach MEMU rake.
The decision comes as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has remained shut for the second consecutive day following heavy rainfall that triggered multiple landslides, shooting stones and road erosion at several locations.
The highway closure has disrupted movement between Kashmir and the rest of the country, leaving hundreds of vehicles and passengers stranded and prompting the Railways to provide an alternative mode of transport.