Udhampur 05 September :- In a severe setback to rail connectivity in the region, the critical Jammu-Udhampur rail link has been completely severed for the second time in a week following a significant landslide near Tunnel No. 16.
The incident occurred late on Wednesday evening between the Roundomel (Ramnagar) and Manwal stations, bringing all train services to Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi shrine, and Udhampur to an abrupt halt.
According to detailed accounts from railway officials, the disruption began when a section of the hillside at kilometre number 39/7 suddenly developed cracks near the entrance of Tunnel No. 16. The initial warning signs were a few trees giving way and tumbling down. This was immediately followed by a massive and sudden collapse of a major portion of the mountainside. A torrent of heavy debris, including large rocks, soil, and uprooted trees, cascaded onto the railway tracks with immense force.
The impact of the landslide was so substantial that it not only completely covered the railway line but also effectively sealed the entire mouth of Tunnel No. 16, creating a formidable obstruction. This has rendered the track utterly impassable, forcing the Northern Railways to suspend all rail traffic on this pivotal section indefinitely.
This incident marks the second major disruption to the service within just seven days. The railway line had only recently been restored to operation this past Monday after previous damage caused by heavy rainfall between Udhampur and Chak Rakhwal stations. The recurrence of such a significant geological event so soon after repairs highlights the vulnerability of this mountainous terrain, particularly during the monsoon season.Responding to the emergency, railway authorities have launched a full-scale clearance operation.
A contingent of manpower and heavy machinery has been rushed to the site near Tunnel No. 16. Work is underway on a war footing, with staff laboring continuously to remove the immense pile of soil and rocks blocking the tunnel entrance and the tracks. However, officials have indicated that restoring full traffic will require extensive effort, and a timeline for normalization of services will only be determined once the scale of the blockage is fully assessed.
