Jammu Railway Division on Thursday operated two special trains, ferrying nearly 3,000 passengers to safety. The move, coordinated with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and district administration, has been hailed as a crucial step in addressing one of the worst disruptions the division has witnessed in decades.
The first special service departed for Banaras in the afternoon, carrying close to 1,500 travellers, while the second left for New Delhi later in the evening with a similar load. Officials confirmed that the passengers included large numbers of pilgrims who had been caught off guard by the heavy rains and a deadly landslide near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra that claimed 34 lives earlier this week. The Jammu region recorded 380 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours, its heaviest downpour since 1910. This deluge washed away tracks, weakened bridges, and triggered landslides, forcing the Northern Railways to cancel 58 trains and short-terminate 64 more. Even limited services restored briefly had to be suspended again after flash floods eroded stretches of track between Kathua and Udhampur.
Railway officials said the emergency services were launched under the supervision of senior officers, with teams working round the clock to coordinate logistics, restore partial connectivity, and ensure that stranded passengers were not left without basic support. Security personnel from GRP and the Railway Protection Force played a key role in managing orderly boarding and ensuring safety amid the chaos. In addition to operating trains, the administration set up relief measures at key junctions including Jammu, Katra, and Pathankot. Food and water were distributed with the help of local NGOs, while community-run langars provided hot meals. Temporary shelters were also arranged to offer accommodation to those unable to travel immediately. Stranded passengers expressed their gratitude for the swift action, calling it a vital humanitarian step at a time when many feared being left without options.
The severe disruption, however, has underscored vulnerabilities in the rail network’s disaster preparedness. Experts believe that Indian Railways must accelerate climate-resilient infrastructure upgrades, particularly in regions prone to extreme rainfall. The Jammu-Pathankot stretch, where tracks run parallel to swollen rivers, remains especially exposed to erosion and flooding. While rail services are expected to remain affected for several days, the special trains have provided immediate relief to passengers desperate to reach home. Officials reiterated that restoration work is underway and that safety will remain the first priority before normal services resume.
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