The train services resumed on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir after a long break of around 11 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The officials said nearly 1,100 passengers travelled between Banihal and Baramulla railway stations on the first day after the resumption of the service.

The officials said that the two trains chugged on the railway tracks in Kashmir as the railway authorities resumed the services partially.

Currently, the train services in Kashmir operate between Banihal in Ramban District and Baramulla only. The work is going on to connect Udhampur railhead to Banihal station for uninterrupted train service between Jammu and Kashmir regions.

Taking to Twitter, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said the resumption of the train service will enhance ease of movement and provide a big boost to the tourism sector. Railways to resume train operations in Kashmir Valley on Banihal-Baramulla section from February 22, with two services operating initially.

The train services, which were launched in Kashmir in 2008, have been disrupted several times as it bore the brunt of violent protests in 2010 and 2016. The services were affected during the 2014 floods and at the time of abrogation of Article 370 in 2019

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The Railways said that no date has yet been fixed for the resumption of all passenger train operations across the country. Currently, only special trains which are fully reserved are in operation across the country along with some suburban train services.

The Indian Railways has been increasing the number of train services in a graded manner.

All regular trains were cancelled after the announcement of nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.

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