Jammu, July 11 : The Indian Railways on Saturday announced a 15-day block on the strategic Banihal–Baramulla section in Jammu and Kashmir for high-temperature de-stressing of Long Welded Rail (LWR) tracks, leading to the cancellation of three passenger trains from today
An official told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the exercise, approved by DRM/Jammu, commenced on July 11 and will continue till July 25, 2026.
He said the work is being carried out as part of the pre-BCM deep screening of the LWR track under the jurisdiction of ADEN/BDGM.
The affected trains, which stand cancelled for the entire duration, are Train No. 74615 – Banihal to Baramulla, Train No. 74632 – Baramulla to Budgam, and Train No. 74628 – Budgam to Banihal.
Speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), a senior railway official said, “De-stressing is a vital engineering measure undertaken during peak summer to counter thermal expansion in rails. It plays a key role in maintaining track integrity and ensuring safe train operations.”
The decision, though necessary for safety upgrades, is expected to affect daily commuters and pilgrims traveling on the route.
The railway administration has urged passengers to plan their journeys accordingly and seek assistance at the nearest station or through the official Indian Railways website.
“It is a standard pre-monsoon safety drill. We regret the inconvenience, but passenger safety remains our top priority,” the official added.
The official, however, assured that the work will be completed within the stipulated timeline and normal services will resume thereafter. (KNS)
