Jammu, August 31, 2025 – In a relief measure for stranded passengers affected by severe flash floods and heavy rainfall in the Jammu region, the Northern Railway has announced the operation of three special trains departing from Jammu Tawi railway station today. This comes as rail services remain heavily disrupted due to damage from unprecedented monsoon havoc, marking the sixth consecutive day of suspended normal operations in the Jammu division.The decision follows days of cancellations and limited special runs to evacuate thousands of passengers, including pilgrims, who have been marooned since heavy rains began lashing the area on August 26.
The Jammu region recorded its highest rainfall since 1910, with 380 mm by Wednesday, leading to landslides, bridge misalignments, and track breaches at multiple locations, including Bridge 17 between Kathua and Madhopur, and Bridge 137 between Hiranagar and Ghagwal.According to railway officials, the three special trains are being introduced to facilitate travel for passengers eager to reach their destinations despite the ongoing challenges. Bookings and reservations for these services will be available shortly through the Indian Railway’s official channels, and passengers are urged to utilize them to the fullest extent.
Details of the Special Trains
The special trains scheduled for today are as follows:
- Train No. 03152: Jammu Tawi – Kolkata Special
- Departure: 2:00 PM from Jammu Tawi
- Route: Via Moradabad, Lucknow, and Banaras
- This train aims to provide connectivity to eastern India, accommodating passengers heading towards Kolkata and intermediate stations.
- Train No. 04676: Jammu Tawi – Chennai (MAS) Special
- Departure: 4:00 PM from Jammu Tawi
- Route: Via New Delhi and other major junctions
- Targeted at southern destinations, this service will help ferry passengers to Chennai, with halts at key northern and central stations.
- Train No. 04674: Jammu Tawi – New Delhi Special
- Departure: 6:00 PM from Jammu Tawi
- Route: Via Kathua and Pathankot Cantt
- A crucial link for those traveling to the national capital, this unreserved special will include general and sleeper coaches to maximize capacity.
These trains consist of a mix of AC, sleeper, and general coaches, depending on the service, to ensure comfort and accessibility. The Northern Railway has coordinated with local authorities, the Government Railway Police (GRP), and NGOs to provide food, water, and assistance at stations for waiting passengers.
Background on Rail Disruptions and Previous Special Runs
Rail traffic in the Jammu division has been completely halted since August 26 due to flash floods, soil erosion, and structural damage to infrastructure. Over 50 trains were cancelled yesterday alone, with 51 more set for cancellation today from Jammu, Katra, and Udhampur stations. Short-termination and short-origination arrangements have been made for a few services, but normal operations are not expected to resume for at least three to four weeks, as repair works on damaged bridges and tracks proceed on a war footing.In the lead-up to today’s announcements, the railways operated two special trains yesterday (August 30) – the Jammu Tawi–Ambedkar Nagar reserved special (departing at 3:00 PM with 674 passengers) and the Jammu Tawi–Chhapra reserved special (departing at 5:00 PM with over 560 passengers). Earlier, on August 29, two additional specials to Chhapra and DADN (Mhow) were run, and on August 28, services to Varanasi and New Delhi evacuated around 3,000 people.
A dedicated help desk has been set up at Jammu Tawi station in collaboration with civil administration to aid stranded travelers.The disruptions have particularly impacted pilgrims en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, where a tragic landslide on August 26 claimed 34 lives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Jammu today for a high-level review meeting at Raj Bhavan to assess flood damages, especially in border areas.Railway spokesperson Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay emphasized the commitment to passenger safety, stating, “Despite the challenges posed by the floods, we are prioritizing special trains to ensure stranded passengers reach their homes safely.” Authorities advise travelers to check the latest updates via the IRCTC app or helpline (139) before heading to the station.
