Around 43 tonnes of fresh luscious cherries of Kashmir have been transported to major markets across the country through special VPs (parcel vans) and the SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coach facility from the Jammu Railway Division till date during the current season.

According to railway officials, so far cherry consignments have been sent as railway parcels through SLR and parcel vans in train numbers 12472, 12474, 12476, 12920, 19028 to major stations, including Surat (Gujarat), Bandra (Maharashtra), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh, Chhayapuri- Vadodara (Gujarat) etc.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Jammu Railway Division, Uchit Singhal stated that the dispatch of 43 tonnes of cherries through SLR and VP was proof of the growing trust of J&K fruit growers and traders in rail services.

“Indian Railways is committed to providing efficient and economical logistics solutions to the farming community. Our teams are ensuring priority loading, safe handling, and timely delivery so that perishable produce reaches consumers fresh. Similar facilities will continue for apples and other fruits as well,” he shared.

Singhal said that Indian Railways was once again proving to be a fast and reliable mode of transport for fruit growers and traders of Jammu and Kashmir.

He pointed out that cherries were reaching destinations in less time through rail service without loss of quality, enabling farmers to get better prices.

Delineating key features of the service being provided by the Jammu Railway Division, Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Railway Division said, “With SLR and VP facilities, all traders, small or big, are able to book cherries as per their demand. Growers of the Jammu region are now bypassing the uncertainties of road transport and sending their produce directly to major mandis (markets).” 

Utilisation of parcel space in passenger trains, Singh said, was generating additional revenue for Railways besides boosting the marketing of agricultural produce.

The railway administration has appealed to all stakeholders to make maximum use of the rail parcel service and cooperate in taking the premium fruits of Jammu and Kashmir to markets across the nation.

On May 25, 2026, the season’s first special parcel van, carrying Kashmir valley’s luscious cherries weighing around 12 tonnes, departed for Mumbai from Jammu Railway Station.

Prior to that, 18 tonnes of cherries were already sent to Mumbai.

Till May 25, 2026, 28 VP indents were already received from Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway stations for cherry transportation.

According to Singhal, apart from 28 special VPs (parcel vans), the SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coach facility available in regular trains on the route will also continue. “Small and medium traders will also be able to send their low-volume consignments safely and affordably,” he said.

Ramban, May 29: The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open for two-way movement of light and medium vehicles on Friday; though traffic movement continued to remain slow at several stretches due to congestion, vehicle breakdowns and the movement of nomadic herds between Ramban and Banihal.

Traffic authorities said that, subject to fair weather and favourable road conditions, the highway is likely to remain open for two-way movement of light, medium and heavy vehicles on Saturday as well.

Officials said heavy congestion was witnessed between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, where single-lane road conditions created bottlenecks and hampered smooth vehicular movement. The situation further worsened after two heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) broke down at Digdool, causing prolonged delays for commuters. Traffic movement was also affected by the large-scale migration of nomadic herds along the Nachlana–Banihal stretch. Officials said around two livestock herds crossed the highway on Friday, while more such movements are expected in the coming days, likely to further impact traffic flow on the busy highway. “Traffic movement on the single-lane stretch between Marog and Kishtwari Pather is expected to remain slow due to the continued movement of nomadic herds,” officials said. Authorities have advised commuters to maintain strict lane discipline and avoid overtaking, warning that wrong-lane driving and traffic violations could lead to further congestion and traffic jams.

Passengers and operators of light motor vehicles have also been advised to undertake travel only during daylight hours and avoid night travel due to the risk of shooting stones, landslides, ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal, and the continued movement of nomadic herds along the highway. Traffic Control Units in Jammu and Srinagar, in coordination with the Ramban district administration, are closely monitoring the situation. Commuters have been urged to check the latest traffic and road status before undertaking their journey on NH-44. Meanwhile, the Kishtwar–Sinthan Top–Anantnag National Highway (NH-244) remained open for vehicular movement.

Jammu, May 29: To study and replicate the working model of Shri Mata Vaishnoo Devi Shrine Board in important temples of state, a high level government delegation from Madhya Pradesh visited Katra on Friday.

Chief Minister Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav himself led this delegation which also studies the model of shrine board to run a medical institute as well as a university.

After paying obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishnoo Devi shrine at Trikuta Hills in Katra, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that state government is putting in efforts for better management and especially crowd control and performing religious practices in many important temples of Madhya Pradesh including MahakalMandirMahakaleshwarDevsthan, OmkareshwarDevsthan.

“We decided to study the model of Shri Mata Vaishnoo Devi Shrine Board and the delegation has visited here with the aim of studying the model of working and also to replicate the same,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that SMVDSB also runs a medical institute and hospital, a university and these aspects have also been observed and studied.

Jammu, May 29: Security forces continued ‘Operation Sheruwali’ for the seventh consecutive day on Friday to hunt down two to three Pakistani terrorists believed to be hiding in the forests of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, while another anti-terrorist search operation was launched in neighbouring Poonch district, officials said.

The forces targeted specific suspected terrorist hideouts with heavy firepower as the ultras continued shifting positions across the difficult terrain, valleys and gorges in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt of the Manjakote area, the officials said.

Joint teams of police and security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Surankote region of Poonch district on Friday after receiving intelligence regarding suspected terrorist movements. There were reports about the presence of two to three individuals, which prompted a thorough search of the area, they added.

Operations were still ongoing when the last reports were received.

In Rajouri, the search operation continued following reports of movement of terrorists in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt after security forces carried out fire assaults on suspected hiding places, they said.

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti and a CRPF Inspector General visited the area on Wednesday and reviewed the ongoing anti-terror operation in the dense forests.

On Thursday, heavy firing and multiple grenade launcher assaults by security forces resulted in visible plumes of smoke rising from the forested area, indicating successful strikes on targeted locations during the operation, officials said.

Security forces have been diligently tracking the movement of the suspects, following blood stains believed to have been left by the fleeing terrorists on Monday. They successfully uncovered a hideout after a brief exchange of fire while strengthening their cordon in the area where the blood stains were found, they added.

Backed by helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs, joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces have been conducting extensive searches in the adjoining areas. The cordon around the operation zone has also been reinforced through the deployment of additional troops, officials informed.

As part of enhanced security measures, vehicle checks on roads connected to the operation area have intensified, and more reinforcements have been dispatched into the forests of Dori Maal in the Gambhir Moghla region.

Operation Sheruwali began last Saturday after an encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the Dorimal-Gambhir Moghla belt following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Singhpora-Chatroo area.

A joint team of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a massive cordon-and-search operation in the area based on specific information about the movement of suspected terrorists.

The operation led to a brief exchange of fire after contact was established with the terrorists, prompting security forces to continue extensive searches in the rugged and heavily forested terrain.

According to preliminary reports, two to three Pakistani terrorists, including a commander, are believed to be hiding in the area.