Srinagar: Train service in Kashmir partially resumed on Thursday after remaining suspended for nearly two months due to prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Banihal-Baramulla train service has largely remained closed since August 5, 2019-first in the wake of Article 370 abrogation and then after the COVID-19 outbreak last year.
On February 22 this year, the service resumed partially, but had to be suspended again on May 10 in the wake of the 2nd COVID-19 wave.
Now with the 2nd wave subsiding considerably, Northern Railways on Thursday operated two pairs of trains between Banihal and Budgam stations.
The particular section between Budgam and Baramulla has been closed for now.
As per plan, the first train 04617 left Banihal station at 7 AM in the morning and reached Budgam at 0953 hours, Chief Area Manager of the Northern Railways in Srinagar, Saqib Yousuf told Greater Kashmir.
From Budgam station train 04618 of the pair left at 0904 hours and reached Banihal at 1115 hours, Yousuf said.
In the evening schedule, the train 04619 of the 2nd pair is scheduled to depart from Banihal station at 1445 hours and reach Budgam station at 1641 hours, he added.
Likewise, from Budgam, the train 04622 of the pair is scheduled to leave from Budgam at 1615 hours and reach Banihal at 1830 hours.
Yousuf said that the trains are being operated at half the seating capacity to ensure social distancing among passengers in a bid to contain COVID-19 spread.
