Passengers face the heat as two trains to Katra suspended

Commuters availing the Jammu-Udhampur rail services are facing hardships due to less frequency of the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains.
The Railways has suspended two of the four DMU trains to extend express trains to Katra, the base camp of the Vaishno Devi shrine.
Due to the cancellation of the DMU trains, the other overburdened trains to Udhampur and Katra see additional rush of passengers.
After the start of the train to Katra in July 2014, all four DMU trains, running between Pathankot and Udhampur via Jammu-Tawi Railway Station, were extended to Katra along with an express train (Shri Shakti Express).
As the four DMU trains to the Vaishno Devi shrine started witnessing a huge rush of pilgrims, the authorities extended 15 trains to Katra but suspended two DMU trains. The other two DMU trains travel only up to Udhampur.
“The DMU was the most convenient and cheapest mode of transport for us for the last 10 years, but after the suspension of two DMU trains, the other two run fully packed and most of the time passengers have to hang on the doors of the train,” said Ashok Sharma, a commuter.
“We have requested the Railways and also written to the Railway Ministry and the Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, to restore the suspended DMU trains, but nothing has been done so far,” Sharma added.
“Students from Udhampur studying in Jammu, especially girls, are facing more problems due to the heavy rush in the DMU trains,” said Sushil Kumar, another passenger.
Sudhir Kumar, Divisional Traffic Manager, Railways, said: “We have extended almost all trains up to Katra via Udhampur. Due to the limited line, we had to suspend two DMU trains. The other two DMU trains are running up to Udhampur.”