11 train from Jammu resume, passengers heave sigh of relief

MAJORITY OF THE STRANDED PASSENGERS WERE PILGRIMS RETURNING FROM MATA VAISHNO DEVI SHRINE

JAMMU:Train services in Jammu region which were severely affected by the violence in Punjab and Haryana were partially restored on Sunday.

Out of 20 trains departing from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu railway stations, 11 trains were resumed on Sunday. The resumption in train movement has brought cheers to the passengers who were stranded at these railway stations for the last three days.

Majority of the stranded passengers were pilgrims who were returning after paying obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Katra.

Trains including, Jammu All Express, Himgiri Express, Archana Express, UdhampurNew Delhi AC Special, Udhampur-Delhi Uttar Sampark Kranti, Kolkata Express, Hemkunt Express, Udhampur Ald Express, and Begampura Express still remained

cancelled. Northern railway divisional traffic manger (DTM) Navin Kumar Jha said, “Five trains from Jammu, four from Katra and two from Udhampur have been restored today.”

When asked if the trains were running along the routine routes, he said, “Yes, the trains would be operating on the listed routes”.

He further said, “We are closely monitoring the situation and will act according to the instructions from Punjab and Haryana.

However, the morning trains departing from Jammu on Monday, would be leaving as per schedule,” he said.

Meanwhile, inter-state buses operations have also been partially restored from Jammu towards other cities of the country. The private night services also resumed operations from Jammu and Katra on Saturday night. Violent protests by supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh after he was convicted had forced the railway authorities to cancel trains in the Jammu region.