Jammu, Apr 30: Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh Thursday asserted that it was only the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who enabled “landmark direct rail connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar.”

He was addressing the gathering at Jammu Railway Station during the event related to Srinagar-Jammu extended train flagging-off ceremony.

Union Minister for Railways and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off extended train in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Dr Jitendra and Members of Parliament Sat Paul Sharma and Gulam Ali Khatana, besides other dignitaries.

While expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra recalled that although the railway network had reached Jammu as early as 1972, its further expansion into the Kashmir valley remained stalled for over four decades.

He noted that significant progress was achieved in recent years, with railway infrastructure now being developed in Jammu and Kashmir at par with the rest of the country under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

He said that commencement of the augmented 20-coach Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express marked a landmark achievement in the ongoing efforts to transform rail connectivity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr Jitendra said that the introduction of the direct train service between Jammu and Kashmir was set to significantly enhance ease of travel, improve logistics efficiency and promote ease of doing business across the region. He said the commencement of the Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the people of the region.

The Minister emphasised that improved rail connectivity was expected to lead to a substantial rise in pilgrim inflow to important destinations in the region, while also facilitating seamless and efficient movement of security personnel. He highlighted that enhanced connectivity would reduce travel time, improve access to remote areas, and integrate local economies more closely with national markets.

Underscoring the economic significance of the project, the Minister stated that the new rail service would play a pivotal role in strengthening supply chains and reducing transportation costs for essential commodities and local produce.

Highlighting the cultural and tourism potential, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “The rail corridor passes through some of the most picturesque and previously less accessible locations, including areas such as Sangaldan in Ramban district which were not easily accessible earlier. With improved accessibility, these scenic destinations are likely to witness increased tourist footfall and renewed interest from filmmakers.”

He observed that Jammu and Kashmir had historically been a favoured destination for film shooting. “The new connectivity is expected to revive that legacy by making remote and pristine locations more reachable,” he said.

Recalling earlier milestones, Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally visited the region to inaugurate the Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station soon after assuming office in 2014, reflecting the government’s continued focus on improving connectivity and infrastructure in the region. Later, the Minister travelled on the Vande Bharat Express with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station.

Speaking to reporters, Dr Jitendra stated that this was like a pilot rail project, given its technological sophistication and execution in challenging Himalayan terrain and was perhaps the first-of-its-kind in the world.

He informed that the experience and learnings from this project would be replicated in other hilly and mountainous regions, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the Northeastern States.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister for Railways and Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw for his constant support and for addressing and fulfilling all requirements related to the project.

Afterwards, Dr Jitendra also accompanied Vaishnaw for inspection of Anji bridge and Chenab bridge along the Vande Bharat Express route.

Jammu, Apr 30: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday thanked the central government and the Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw for “actually connecting Jammu with Kashmir through rail” and described the occasion as a “realisation of a dream” for J&K people.

He was addressing the gathering during the event at Jammu Railway Station related to the flag-off ceremony marking the historic extension of Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat Express service to Jammu.

The extended train enabled for the first time a direct rail connection between Jammu and Srinagar.

After profusely praising the centre’s initiative vis-à-vis transformational Vande Bharat Express service in J&K, the Chief Minister also used the occasion to raise a demand for an inland dry port for J&K.

In his address prior to the flagging-off ceremony, CM Omar urged the Railway Minister to consider establishing an inland dry port in Jammu and Kashmir. He stated it was necessary for facilitating and streamlining export and custom clearance within the region to reduce logistics costs by eliminating the need to route goods through other cities.

“This will not only benefit our businesses but also contribute to the country’s overall economic growth,” he asserted.

CM Omar said though the matter was not related to the Minister for Railways directly yet he (Vaishnaw), using his influence, could help plead J&K’s cause at right quarters. “I will also raise this demand at the Centre myself,” he said.

The Chief Minister also asked Dr Jitendra and J&K MPs to give it (demand) a push at the Centre for the Union Territory.

Notably a couple of days ago, CM Omar, while responding to a question about the prospects of direct Jammu-Srinagar rail service, had stated, “Increase in train capacity and frequency is what we want. There are a couple of things or points which I want to share but that I’ll convey on April 30 in front of the (Railway) Minister.”

The extended train service was flagged off by the Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw joined by the Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Members of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, Sat Sharma and Gulam Ali Khatana too were present on the occasion along with other dignitaries.

Regular run of the extended Srinagar-Jammu Vande Bharat Express will commence from May 2, 2026.

The Chief Minister stated that Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat Express inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year had emerged as a very popular mode of transport.

“In particular, freight trains to Kashmir are playing a significant role in boosting its economy and facilitating the business community and horticulture sector,” he said.

He described the occasion as “a day long awaited by the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” emphasising that the extension of the Vande Bharat Express to Jammu marks not just improved connectivity, but the beginning of a transformative phase in the region’s development.

While extending “greetings and gratitude of people of J&K” to the Centre and the Minister for Railways for ensuring direct rail connectivity between Kashmir and Jammu, CM Omar recalled the inauguration of key infrastructure projects, including the iconic Chenab Railway bridge and Anji Khad Bridge, nearly ten months ago by the Prime Minister.

Referring to cent per cent occupancy of Vande Bharat Express service, he, in a lighter note, pointed out, “What was once seen as a major engineering feat has now evolved into a highly popular and widely utilised mode of transport. We had never realised that even to get a single ticket, we will have to look for “right contacts” because it is not available so easily due to 100 percent occupancy.”

Highlighting the overwhelming response to the technologically advanced rail service, he said, “The demand has grown so significantly that the train’s capacity has been expanded from 8 coaches to 20 coaches, increasing passenger capacity from around 500 to nearly 1,400 in a single journey. With two such trains operating, nearly 2,800 passengers will now be able to travel daily between Jammu and Srinagar, significantly easing travel and enhancing convenience.”

The Chief Minister pointed out that the success of the service was not merely in passenger travel. Underlining its growing role in freight movement, he said that the rail network had already begun facilitating the transportation of goods, including cement, food supplies and vehicles, into the valley.

“I was amazed to find that automobiles are now being transported directly to Srinagar by rail, marking a significant logistical breakthrough. Equally important is the outbound movement of goods from Jammu and Kashmir. Our fruits, milk and dairy products are now reaching markets outside J&K efficiently through this rail network,” he said.

CM Omar stressed that the enhanced connectivity would strengthen local industries and open new economic avenues for farmers and producers.

Calling the day historic, the Chief Minister said that for the first time, people of Jammu and Kashmir could seamlessly travel between Jammu and Srinagar by train, reducing dependence on road transport and significantly improving accessibility. “We had been waiting for this day for years. With this rail link, Jammu and Kashmir is more connected than ever before,” he maintained.

Banihal, Apr 30: A tragic incident occurred in Panchayat Doulka of Bani tehsil in Kathua district on Wednesday evening when a lightning strike hit a residential house, leaving a minor boy dead and another child injured.

According to official details, the lightning struck the house of Tulsi Ram, son of Jagat Ram, a resident of Bhandar presently living in Khloran for the past 10 years, at around 5:47 PM. The lightning reportedly entered the house through a window and affected two children who were inside the room.

One of them, Arjun Singh (11), a Class 5 student of Primary School Khloran, sustained critical injuries. He was immediately rushed to Community Health Centre (CHC) Bani by family members, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Another child, Sapna Devi (14), a student of Class 6 at High School Ghutu, also sustained injuries in the incident. However, officials said she is now stable and out of danger.

Rajouri, Apr 30: In a tragic incident, a house was reduced to ashes after being struck by lightning in the remote village of Azmatabad in Thanamandi sub-division of Rajouri district.

According to reports, the lightning strike hit a double-storey kacha house, triggering a fire that rapidly engulfed the structure. 

The house, owned by Mohammad Gafoor, son of Ahmed Din, was completely destroyed in the blaze, leaving the family homeless and causing heavy losses.

Locals said that due to the absence of proper road connectivity, Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) could not reach the spot in time, allowing the fire to spread unchecked.