Jammu: Northern Railway Cancels 68 Trains, Some Services Resume
The Northern Railway has announced the cancellation of 68 incoming and outgoing trains from Jammu and Katra stations until September 30, while 24 trains are set to resume, officials said.
Rail traffic in the Jammu division has remained suspended for the past eight days due to misalignment and breaches at multiple points along the Pathankot-Jammu section, caused by recent heavy rains and flash floods.
The extreme weather, which began on August 26, stranded hundreds of passengers, including pilgrims, as both rail and road networks were severely disrupted. A landslide near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra tragically claimed 34 lives. The region recorded its heaviest rainfall since 1910, with 380 mm falling by Wednesday.
“To help stranded passengers, the following train services are operational: Jammu Tawi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (two shuttle services), Jammu Tawi–Kolkata, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–New Delhi,” an official said.
Additionally, four shuttle trains will operate on the Jammu–Katra section from September 1 to 15. Services for Sampark Kranti, Sealdah Express, Kantri Express, Vande Bharat, Trivandrum Express, and other shuttles have also been restored.
“Two pairs of shuttle trains have been introduced to facilitate travel for locals and stranded passengers between Jammu and Katra. The Jammu–Kolkata and Vaishno Devi–New Delhi trains are also running,” the official added. The Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to resume on September 7.
So far, seven trains have ferried 5,784 stranded passengers from Jammu to continue their onward journeys.
