Shri Shakti Express terminated at Udhampur, pilgrims stranded

The Shri Shakti Express, which was introduced in July this year to facilitate the travel of pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine near Katra, has been terminated at the Udhampur station as the flood situation has deteriorated in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have come from Delhi and are struck in train for the last two days. Suddenly they announced that the train has been terminated. Furthermore, they said that you can take taxi or bus to Katra or Jammu at your own expenses. The officials said they are not responsible for anything," a passenger from Delhi said.

Rakesh Kumar, another passenger travelling from Gorakhpur, said, "We have come here for the first time and are unaware of things. The sudden termination of the train was announced today morning. Also, there is so much of landslide happening in Jammu. How can we travel by road?"

"We started on 5th from Delhi and around five in the morning the next day the train stopped at the Rampur station. After that it started at seven in the evening yesterday. Since then we have reached Udhampur only and now the train has been terminated here. The authorities are not giving any clear information about anything," said Poornima Sabharwal, a passenger travelling from Delhi.

"The biggest problem is that we don't have anything to eat or drink. Complete support is provided by the locals", she added.

Incessant rains resulting in mud slides, flash floods and rising of water level in all rivers of Jammu and Kashmir have left thousands of people stranded across the state.

The floods have affected 2,325 villages, of which, nearly 350 have been submerged. At least 90 people have died after floods and landslides lashed Jammu and Kashmir. Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam districts in south Kashmir have been the worst hit due to the disaster.

Rescue and relief operations are going on in full swing.