In a proactive move to assist stranded commuters, Northern Railway launched special train services between Budgam and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on Saturday, August 1, 2026. The intervention follows the prolonged closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), which has remained shut for over 24 hours due to severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, mudslides, and shooting stones near the Dawal Bridge in Udhampur and the Ramban-Banihal sectors.
Key updates regarding the emergency rail services:
• Northern Railway transported approximately 2,200 stranded passengers across three special train services.
• Services operated between Budgam and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, with an additional one-way service from Banihal to Katra.
• Intermediate stops for these trains included Srinagar, Banihal, and Sangaldan Railway Stations.
• The special train operations will continue until normal traffic flow is restored on the highway.
Details of the Special Train Operations
Following a surge in passenger footfall at Srinagar and Katra stations, the decision to run these services was fast-tracked by Northern Railway after receiving requests from the Commercial Control at Jammu Tawi (JAT). Uchit Singhal, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager for Jammu, confirmed that the deployment was essential to provide a safe alternative for travelers stuck due to the road blocks.
The schedule for the special services on August 1 included a train departing Budgam at 1:00 PM, reaching Katra at 4:20 PM. The return leg departed Katra at 5:05 PM, terminating at Budgam at 8:30 PM. Additionally, a one-way supplementary service departed Banihal at 4:30 PM, arriving at Katra at 6:30 PM.
Safety Advisory for Commuters
While the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and local traffic police are working around the clock to clear the debris and restore the damaged carriageway near the Dawal Bridge, authorities have strongly advised the public to avoid travel on NH-44 until the road is officially declared safe. Passengers are encouraged to rely on these rail services as a secure and reliable mode of transport during the ongoing weather-related disruptions. Railway officials continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure passenger convenience.