Jammu: Shuttle services of four trains that were introduced to help locals and stranded passengers travel between Jammu and Katra – the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine – was suspended due to heavy rain and flooding on Wednesday.
The scheduled train services from New Delhi to Katra have also been short-terminated.
These shuttle services, which started on September 1, were scheduled to run until September 15.
“The shuttle services between Jammu and Katra, which was started to facilitate the movement of daily passengers and stranded persons, have been cancelled today,” a Railway official said.
This step was taken in view of heavy rains and flooding of the track, he said.
Rail traffic in the Jammu railway division has been suspended for the past nine days due to misalignment and breaches caused by heavy rains and flash floods on August 26 in the Pathankot-Jammu section.
However, the railways have been running special trains to ferry stranded passengers from Jammu to their destinations.
Over the past four days, a total of 5,784 stranded passengers have been ferried in seven special trains.
The region had faced severe disruption of both rail and road traffic due to incessant rainfall since August 26, with many pilgrims getting stranded.
A landslide near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra claimed 34 lives on August 26. The pilgrimage remained suspended for the ninth day on Wednesday.
Last Wednesday, Jammu recorded its heaviest rainfall since 1910 at 380mm.
Railways cancel 68 trains till September 30 in Jammu, 24 to resume
The Northern Railway has announced the cancellation of 68 incoming and outgoing trains from Jammu and Katra stations till September 30, while 24 trains are scheduled to resume, officials said.
Rail traffic has remained suspended in the Jammu railway division for the past eight days due to misalignment and breaches at multiple locations in the Pathankot-Jammu section following the recent heavy rains and flash floods.
Scores of people, especially pilgrims, were stranded as heavy rains lashed the Jammu region August 26 (Tuesday) onwards, severely disrupting rail and road traffic. A landslide near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra claimed 34 lives. The Jammu region recorded its heaviest rainfall since 1910, at 380 mm by Wednesday.
“To facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, the following train services are being run: Jammu Tawi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (2 shuttle services), Jammu Tawi-Kolkata, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi,” an official said.
Four trains have been inducted in the Jammu-Katra section for shuttle service that will operate from September 1 to 15, the official said.
The Railways restored the operation of Sampark Kranti and Sealdah Express trains, Kantri Express, Vande Bharat, Trivandrum Express and shuttle services.
“Shuttle services have been started with the induction of two pairs of trains to facilitate the movement of locals and stranded passengers between Jammu and Katra have started,” the official said, adding that Jammu-Kolkata and Vaishno Devi-New Delhi trains are running.
The Vande Bharat train will resume operation from September 7.
A total of 5,784 stranded passengers have been ferried in seven trains from Jammu for their onward journey.
