Railways Heighten Security on Kashmir Link Line, Inspect Key Tunnels and Bridges After Pahalgam Terror Attack

Railways Enhance Security on Kashmir Rail Line, Inspect Key Infrastructure Following Pahalgam Terror Attack

In the aftermath of the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, Indian Railways has significantly tightened security measures along the strategic 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), also known as the Kashmir rail line.

Officials from Northern Railway, under whose jurisdiction the USBRL falls, confirmed that General Manager Ashok Kumar Verma conducted a thorough inspection of the project’s key tunnels and bridges on Wednesday. Verma was accompanied by senior railway officials including Principal Chief Security Commissioner (PCSC) Pankaj Gangwar and the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Jammu Division.

Currently, passenger services are operational on the 184-km stretch between Sangaldan and Baramulla, and the 25-km Udhampur-Katra section. However, the 63-km Katra-Sangaldan stretch—which would connect the Kashmir Valley via rail—awaits inauguration. This section was slated for opening by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 19, along with the launch of a special Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar. The event was postponed due to bad weather.

According to railway sources, General Manager Verma inspected critical infrastructure including the iconic Chenab Bridge, Anji Bridge, and the Banihal Tunnel. These locations, along with surrounding station areas and tunnels, have now been placed under heightened security. “The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been reinforced at three sensitive locations. Additional support is being provided by the Government Railway Police (GRP) and local police,” said a senior railway official.

Special security measures include increased surveillance in station circulating areas, enhanced baggage screening protocols, and bolstered patrolling of tunnels and bridges. The Katra-Banihal section, spanning 111 km, is considered the most challenging stretch of the USBRL and is of particular security concern.

This segment includes T-50, India’s longest transportation tunnel at 12.77 km, the 359-metre-high Chenab Bridge—the world’s tallest railway arch bridge—and the Anji Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. A staggering 87 percent of this section—approximately 97 km—is located within tunnels, with eight major tunnels measuring between 5 km and 12.77 km.

To ensure constant monitoring, authorities have set up a centralized surveillance system for all tunnels, with round-the-clock CCTV monitoring. “Inputs from RPF, GRP, and local law enforcement are being shared hourly. Specific instructions have been issued to intensify checks and maintain vigilance, especially while reviewing CCTV footage,” added the official.

The urgency of the enhanced security measures was underscored by the fact that one of the victims of the Pahalgam attack was a railway employee. Atun Mone, a senior section engineer with Central Railway’s Parel Workshop, was on holiday with his wife and daughter when the attack occurred.

In response to the heightened threat, Northern Railway also operated a one-way special evacuation train from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to New Delhi on Wednesday night to assist stranded tourists. Another special reserved service was scheduled to depart Katra for New Delhi at 10:50 am on Thursday.

These swift and comprehensive steps reflect the Indian Railways’ commitment to ensuring the safety of passengers and infrastructure in one of the most sensitive and strategic regions of the country.