A view of Sangaldan-Khari section on the 111-long Banihal-Katra section of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project in Ramban district. File | Photo: Nissar Ahmad/The Hindu
Railway services were partially restored after heavy snowfall led to the suspension of service along the Sangaldan-Baramulla section of the Firozpur division in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday (December 28, 2024).
“The section between Sangaldan and Banihal was restored at 2 p.m., and the first train (04667) departed at 2.10 p.m. from Sangaldan. The section between Budgam and Anantnag was restored by 2.30 p.m., and the first train departed at 2.45 p.m. By 4 p.m., the Budgam to Baramulla section was also restored and the first train departed at 4.30 p.m.,” officials said.
Services along two sections — Anantnag to Qazigund, and via Qazigand to Banihal — remained shut due to the accumulation of snow on the tracks. “By late evening, around 6 p.m., the Anantnag-Banihal section was cleared of snow. Train services will resume on Sunday (December 29, 2024), provided the weather continues to stay dry,” officials said.
“Nearly 80% to 85% of clearing work along the 130 km stretch is done. Some services were operational along the Srinagar-Budgam section as well. We are working hard to clear snow along the remaining blocked sections, too,” a Railways official said.
“A WDM [class of diesel-electric] locomotive along with snow cutter will be run to clear the snow on the tracks,” officials said.
Officials said inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) was expected along the 17 km stretch from Katra to Reasi in January. “The CRS will share observations on safety along the crucial stretch that runs over the Chenab bridge,” the official said, adding that the CRS had already submitted a report on the Reasi-Sangaldan section for improvement of safety.
“Once the Reasi to Sangaldan section is operational, it will pave the way to connect Jammu to Kashmir via rail,” the official said.
Published – December 28, 2024 08:17 pm IST