Kashmir Valley gets connected by rail

Northern Railways on Friday made history as the first train chugged through India’s longest railway tunnel through the Pir Panjal mountain range, connecting the Kashmir Valley to Banihal town on the Srinagar-Jammu National highway.

The train on a trial run, arrived at Banihal station from Qazigund in the Anantnag district of Kashmir, was witnessed by hundreds of local residents of this highway town.

The train chugged in at the station amidst thunderous applause from the people, who had assembled here to witness the historic achievement of Indian Railways.

The trial run was to be conducted on Thursday but had to be postponed following protests by residents of villages falling along the Qazigund-Banihal railway link, who were demanding a one-minute halt station for the train at Hillad village.

The protesters, backed by a local politician, tried to block the track on Friday again but were persuaded by the civil administration officials to allow the train to pass.