Jammu, September 8, 2025 : In a major relief measure, Northern Railways on Monday commenced a special local train service between Katra and Sangaldan to assist passengers stranded due to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur district.
This marks the first-ever local train service from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station (Reasi district) to Sangaldan Railway Station (Ramban district). The service aims to ferry hundreds of stranded people, including students, employees, and patients, who have been affected by the highway closure, providing them a vital transport link.
The 63-kilometre train route connects Katra and Sangaldan via Reasi, Bakkal, and Dugga stations. Commuters are charged a nominal fare of Rs 20. The service is scheduled to run for five days, from September 8 to September 12, with two local passenger trains operating daily.
A senior railway official stated that the service was introduced at the request of local administration to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers and patients with urgent medical needs. The first train departed from Katra at 8:40 AM, carrying 464 passengers to Sangaldan, and returned at 2 PM the same day.
With roads blocked by landslides and flash floods, the five-coach train provides a critical lifeline for locals and pilgrims. Many passengers had been stranded in districts like Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar for several days.
Rafi Mohammad, a local passenger, expressed relief:
“We were stranded in Jammu for nine days due to the highway closure. We are happy that today we can finally return home via the train.”
Similarly, Zeenat Begum, who was stranded for over a week in Jammu after surgery, said,
“We thank the railways for this service. It is a great relief to be able to return to Banihal.”
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the initiative, tweeting that in the absence of road connectivity beyond Udhampur, special arrangements had been made to transport essentials and passengers via this local train service. He added that essential supplies carried by the train would further be transported by road to Doda and Kishtwar districts.
Dr Singh also mentioned that the weather had improved and NHAI authorities are working round-the-clock to clear the Jammu-Srinagar highway blockade at Thard and Bali Nallah, hoping for traffic restoration by late evening.
Normal train services in Jammu and Kashmir have been disrupted since August 26, following heavy rains and flash floods. So far, the Northern Railway has announced the restoration of 21 trains, with the special Katra-Sangaldan service providing much-needed connectivity during the crisis.
