After 5 months, Kashmir rail services back on track

SRINAGAR - Train services resumed in the Kashmir Valley Thursday after remaining suspended for nearly five months because of the widespread unrest.

Operations were restored between Anantnag district in south Kashmir and the central district of Badgam Thursday.

Complete resumption of operations will take place in two phases. In the next phase, we will resume services from Badgam to Baramulla in the north where repairs to the rail link are still to be completed, an official said.

Massive damage was caused to railway property, including rail tracks and stations, during the over five-month long unrest. Mobs torched railway stations and uprooted tracks in several places. Services were suspended July 31.

The decision to resume operations was taken at a meeting in Srinagar Dec 15 after the situation in the valley returned to normal,” said the official.

Authorities have made elaborate arrangements to protect the tracks and other properties.

The rail link from Anantnag to Baramulla is 119 km long.

A total of 1,600 local policemen, 350 personnel from the Railway Protection Force and around 800 paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers have been deployed for the purpose, a senior police officer said Thursday.