Northern Railways announced the operation of two reserved special trains from Jammu Tawi station on Saturday to evacuate stranded passengers, as 46 incoming and outgoing trains from Jammu, Katra, and Udhampur remain cancelled due to unprecedented monsoon havoc. The first train, Jammu Tawi–Dr Ambedkar Nagar (Train No. 12920), departs at 3:00 PM with 700 reserved seats available, while the second, Jammu Tawi–Chhapra, leaves at 5:00 PM with 900 reserved seats. This follows the successful operation of two unreserved special trains on Thursday, which transported approximately 3,000 passengers, including many Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims, to Varanasi and New Delhi.

The Jammu region has been crippled by heavy rainfall since August 26, recording 380 mm by Wednesday—the heaviest since 1910. Flash floods and soil erosion, particularly near the Chakki river and Chakkibridge, have caused severe damage to railway tracks and bridges, suspending traffic between Kathua and Udhampur for five days. A landslide near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra on August 26 killed 34 people and injured 20, stranding scores of pilgrims. Northern Railways reported 46 train cancellations on Saturday, alongside five trains with short-origin or short-termination arrangements, with breaches at multiple locations complicating restoration efforts.

The Railway Police and district administration have set up a dedicated help desk at Jammu railway station to assist passengers, many of whom faced shortages of food, water, and shelter. Babita Jaiswal, a Kanpur resident stranded in Jammu, told PTI, “We reached Jammu by bus from Katra, but there are no trains or proper facilities. We just want to get home.” Railways, in coordination with NGOs, has provided food, water, and lodging at stations like Manwal, Sangar, and Gaghwal, with community kitchens operational in Katra.

Also Read: Jammu Ministers Assess Flood Relief Operations

The PRO of Railways, Jammu, confirmed that Vande Bharat services between Katra and Srinagar remain unaffected, offering an alternative for stranded passengers. Restoration work continues, but officials estimate normal services may resume only after September 1, pending repairs to damaged infrastructure. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Jammu on August 31 to review the crisis, while the Indian Army’s 110-foot Bailey bridge over the Tawi river has restored some road connectivity.

Also Read: Jammu Reels Under Deadly Floods, Landslides; Vaishno Devi Yatra Halted