Jammu, September 3, 2025 : Train services between Jammu and Katra—the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine—were hit once again on Wednesday after heavy rains and flooding forced the suspension of newly launched shuttle operations.
Railway officials said four shuttle trains, introduced on September 1 to facilitate the movement of daily commuters and stranded pilgrims, have been cancelled until further notice. The services were initially planned to continue until September 15. Scheduled trains from New Delhi to Katra have also been short-terminated.
“The shuttle services between Jammu and Katra were started to ease the hardship of stranded passengers, but operations have been cancelled today due to waterlogging and flooding of the tracks,” a senior railway official said.
Rail Division Still Paralyzed
Rail traffic in the Jammu railway division has remained suspended for the past nine days, ever since heavy rains and flash floods on August 26 caused misalignment and breaches in the Pathankot–Jammu section. Officials said restoration work is underway but continuous rainfall has hampered progress.
Special Trains for Stranded Passengers
Despite the disruptions, Indian Railways has been operating special trains to evacuate stranded passengers. Over the past four days, seven such trains have ferried 5,784 people from Jammu to various destinations.
Region in Crisis
The prolonged downpour has battered the region since August 26, severely affecting both rail and road traffic. The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway remains blocked at multiple points due to landslides, while the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine has been suspended for the ninth consecutive day following a massive landslide at Ardhkuwari that killed 34 pilgrims and injured 20 others.
Last Wednesday, Jammu recorded its heaviest rainfall since 1910 at 380 mm in 24 hours, compounding the crisis and leaving thousands of residents, devotees, and travelers stranded.
