Page 2 - Srinagar

Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train service to start operations from Jun 7

The Vande Bharat train service between Katra and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir will start commercial operations from June 7, the Northern Railway said on Thursday. The train will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) platform will start reflecting these trains for prospective passengers to book tickets after the inauguration, an official said. According to Northern Railway, two Vande Bharat train sets will make four trips during the day between Katra and Srinagar. "It has two travelling classes Chair Car (CC) and Executive Class (EC) with tickets costing Rs 715 and Rs 1,320 respectively," an official from the Northern Railway said. The first train will commence from Katra at 8:10 am and reach Srinagar at 11:08 am. The same train will return in the afternoon from Srinagar at 2 PM and reach Katra at 4:58 pm. This train service will not be available on Tuesday. Another train will start from Katra at 2:55

PM Modi to inaugurate Chenab bridge, flag off Vande Bharat trains in J-K

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday inaugurate the Chenab bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, and flag off Vande Bharat trains between Katra and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. A PMO statement said Modi will launch multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra, the home to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple. Lauding the Chenab bridge as an architectural marvel, the statement noted that it is at a height of 359 metres above the river. It is a 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions. "A key impact of the bridge will be in enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. Through Vande Bharat train moving on the bridge, it will take just about 3 hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing existing travel time by 2-3 hours," it said, stressing Modi's commitment to boosting infra and connectivity in the region. The Anji Bridge is India's first cable-stayed rail bridge that will serve the nation in

Pahalgam attack has not stalled the J-K statehood talks: Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the April 22 Pahalgam attack has not stalled the conversation around restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and that he had raised the issue at the recent meeting of NITI Aayog governing council. "No, not at all. If you were to take out the formal speech that circulated in the NITI Aayog meeting, you will find a categorical mention for return of statehood in that ... which was given to the Honourable Prime Minister and all the members of the governing council of the NITI Aayog," Abdullah told reporters in this tourist resort of north Kashmir, 52 kilometres from Srinagar. Abdullah was responding to a question whether the Pahalgam terror attack had affected the talk about restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. "So, the conversation around statehood has not stalled. The only thing I was unwilling to do was to use the special session of the (Jammu and Kashmir) Assembly to talk about statehood. But that does not mean the ...

Storm disrupts Delhi flights; Srinagar flight declares emergency mid-air

Thunderstorms and heavy rain caused multiple delays at Delhi airport, while a Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight announced a mid-air emergency due to a hailstorm

IndiGo says Delhi-Srinagar flight encountered sudden hailstorm

IndiGo on Wednesday said its flight from the national capital to Srinagar encountered sudden hailstorm on Wednesday and the plane landed safely at the Srinagar airport. Officials said the flight, carrying more than 220 people, faced turbulence, prompting the pilot to report the "emergency" to air traffic control at Srinagar. "IndiGo flight 6E 2142 operating from Delhi to Srinagar encountered sudden hailstorm en route. The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar," the airline said in a statement. According to IndiGo, the airport team attended to the customers after arrival of the aircraft, prioritising their wellbeing and comfort. "The aircraft will be released post necessary inspection and maintenance," it added.

Pahalgam attack: Intel had warned of terror strikes, say officials

The alerts had led to heightened security, with top police officials camping in Srinagar and overseeing combing operations around Dachigam and Nishat

'No one will be spared': Shah vows retribution for Pahalgam terror attack

Union Home Minister Amit Shah vows strict action after the Pahalgam terror attack, promising to hunt down every perpetrator and reiterating the Modi government's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism

Tourists feel 'safe' in J&K's Srinagar, Pahalgam deserted after attack

While Dal Lake remains lively with visitors enjoying the picturesque landscape of the valley, nearby Pahalgam appears deserted, with a heavy security presence replacing the usual tourist crowds

Pahalgam terror attack: Srinagar airfares dropped after govt intervention

Airlines responded by waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees and boosting flight capacity from Srinagar

Keep regular fare level on J&K flights: Airlines told after Pahalgam attack

Airlines start additional flights to Srinagar after Pahalgam terror attack; 'strongly advised' not to implement surge pricing

Have asked for hassle-free refunds to tourists: Tourism Min Shekhawat

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Centre has urged airlines, hotels, and tour operators to offer hassle-free refunds to anxious tourists reconsidering travel to Kashmir

Jammu-Srinagar highway reopens for one-way traffic; special train arranged

The landslide-hit Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened for one-way traffic on Wednesday after remaining closed for the last three days, while a special train has been launched from Katra to New Delhi to assist the stranded passengers to reach their destination, an official spokesperson said. The highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked due to multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains and cloudbursts early Sunday. The (Jammu-Srinagar) national highway at Ramban is made functional on a one-way basis, the spokesperson said, also announcing the launch of a special train service from SMVD Katra station to New Delhi to assist the stranded passengers and accommodate the "extra rush". The administration remains committed to the well-being of all tourists and urges everyone to cooperate and follow the necessary guidelines, he said. In the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, thousands of tourists have begun leaving Kashmir,

Govt urges airlines to avoid Srinagar fare hike, asks to add more flights

Air India and IndiGo will operate a total of four additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday. Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Kashmir's Pahalgam town on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists. "In view of the prevailing situation, Air India will operate two additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday, April 23," Air India said in a post on X. An IndiGo official said it will operate two additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spoke to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu regarding the tragic incident in Pahalgam, where tourists from Maharashtra lost their lives. According to Shinde's office, he has requested Naidu to make special arrangements for the immediate transportation of the mortal remains of the deceased from Srinagar to Mumbai. In response, Naidu has assured that all necessary measures will be taken and special

India to celebrate Eid on Monday as moon sighted in Srinagar, Sambhal

President Droupadi Murmu greeted Indians on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr

No new liquor vends allotted in Jammu-Kashmir: CM Omar Abdullah

The remaining 34 locations are being put up for re-auction through public notice issued on March 7

Authorities in J-K warn against spring water use due to contamination

Authorities in Kashmir have directed people not to directly consume spring water in Ganderbal district and rural areas of Srinagar after samples collected from 37 water bodies were found to contain harmful bacteria. In a notice issued on Wednesday, the Jal Shakti department said if at all spring water is to be used, it should be boiled. The warning comes in the backdrop of 17 deaths reported from Rajouri district due to a mysterious illness. "Jal Shakti (PHE) Rural Water Supply Division Ganderbal/Sgr carried out a massive drive of random sampling and testing of various springs across Ganderbal district, wherein it has been found that 37 out of 40 samples collected are bacteriologically positive... rendering those springs unfit for human consumption," the notice said. "Now, through the medium of this notice, the general public of district Ganderbal and rural Srinagar, where spring water is used for drinking purposes by locals..., are requested to refrain from using spring water for

India's dream of a direct rail link to Kashmir moves closer to reality

The project of connecting Kashmir by rail has been in the making for over two decades

Srinagar airport announces inauguration of smoking zone, receives backlash

With the opening of a smoking area within the Security Hold Area close to Gate 07, Srinagar International Airport "inaugurated" a new facility for travelers, which was criticised by netizens

Kashmir's Gulmarg, Pahalgam face sub-zero temp amid slight dip in cold

Gulmarg and Pahalgam in Kashmir continued to experience severe subzero temperatures while the rest of the valley saw slight relief from the cold wave, officials said on Sunday. Gulmarg, a tourist resort town known for skiing activities in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 8.0 degree Celsius, the Meteorological department said. The base camp for annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, Pahalgam, registered a minimum of minus 8.5 degree Celsius, the department said. In Srinagar the mercury dipped to minus 0.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday night -- two degrees above the normal temperature for this time of the year, it added. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, logged a minimum temperature of minus 0.4 degree Celsius, while Konibal in Parampore recorded a low of minus 1.0 degree Celsius, the weather office said. Kupwara in north Kashmir registered minus 1.0 degrees Celsius while in south Kashmir, Kokernag recorded 1.8 degrees Celsius, the office said. Kashmir is currently under

Jammu-Srinagar highway reopens after day-long closure due to snowfall

The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway was on Sunday reopened for vehicular traffic after a day-long closure due to heavy snowfall, allowing stranded vehicles to proceed to their respective destinations, officials said. However, several other important inter-district routes, including the Mughal Road, Sinthan Pass, Sonamarg-Kargil inter-UT road, and Bhaderwah-Chamba inter-state road, remained closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall. "The highway has been reopened today following the clearance of snow accumulated on various stretches of the road," a traffic official said. The stranded vehicles along the highway are being cleared, he added. "Passenger traffic is plying on the highway. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline, as overtaking may cause congestion," J-K Traffic Police said in an advisory. It also advised commuters to drive cautiously, as the road is slippery between Banihal and Qazigund. The Mughal Road, which serves as an alternative link to the Kashmir V