Two special trains being planned for today
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 29: Even as repair work on damaged railway bridges and track is going on war footing, normal rail traffic to and from Jammu is unlikely to get restored soon.
Official sources told the Excelsior that due to extensive damage to several railway bridges and track in Jammu division following flash floods and soil erosion, normal rail traffic is unlikely to get restored in next couple of days.
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Besides breeches of track at multiple locations in Jammu Division, Bridge number 17 between Kathua and Madhopur and Bridge number 137 between Hiranagar and Ghagwal have sustained extensive damages, sources added.
“Even as the repair work is going on war footing, it will take at least three-four weeks for complete restoration of the double track and resuming normal rail traffic,” sources explained.
Pertinent to mention that rail traffic in Jammu division is lying completely paralyzed for the last four days following unprecedented rains in the regions and consequent flash floods as well as soil erosion along the railway tracks and bridges.
Except running two special trains on Wednesday and Thursday for the stranded passengers, there has been no arrival as well as departure of any train at Jammu, Katra and Udhampur railway stations in the last four days.
As normal rail traffic is unlikely to be restored soon, sources said that the authorities are exploring the possibility to run a few special trains on the single track for facilitating travel between Jammu and Delhi to some extent.
“Since single track has been restored, authorities are gearing up to run a few special trains in a phased manner,” sources informed, adding that two special trains are being planned tomorrow.
These special trains, one towards UP-Bihar side and other towards Delhi, will depart Jammu railway station approximately at 15 hrs and 17 hrs, sources said.
According to the sources, track between Katra and Jammu is also likely to be restored by Sunday as the ongoing repair work on the bridge number 163 at Chak Rakwal is nearing completion.
Meanwhile, rail traffic in Jammu division remained completely paralyzed for the fourth consecutive day as there was no arrival or departure of any train at Jammu Railway Station on Friday also.
According to an official statement by the Northern Railway, 38 trains to and from Jammu remained cancelled on Friday due to water logging between Kathua-Madhopur in Jammu and Punjab region.
These include 23 trains, which were scheduled to reach Jammu, Katra or Udhampur from Delhi and other parts of the country. In addition to these, 15 trains, which were scheduled to depart from Jammu, Katra and Udhampur, remained cancelled.
Yesterday, the Northern Railway had announced cancellation of 40 scheduled trains to and from Jammu besides short termination/origination of 12 other trains on Friday.
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