Two key railway bridges on the Jammu–Pathankot track suffered extensive damage during heavy rains and floods in August–September this year. A team led by Divisional Railway Manager, Jammu Division, Vivek Kumar carried out a detailed inspection of stations and railway sections to review safety measures, passenger amenities and restoration work, a spokesperson of the Jammu railway division said.
As part of the visit, Kumar conducted a surprise inspection of the railway section between Jammu and Pathankot Cantonment, the spokesperson said. During the inspection, railway bridge number 17, located between Kathua and Madhopur, and railway bridge number 137, located between Ghagwal and Hiranagar, were thoroughly examined, he said. Senior officers of the division were also present during the inspection.
The main objective was to review the progress of repair and restoration work on the bridges damaged by recent rains to ensure the early resumption of full train operations, the PRO said.
Prioritising passenger safety, the railway administration had already initiated repair work, which is progressing smoothly, he added.
A day earlier, a high-level safety committee from the Northern Railway headquarters conducted a detailed inspection of the railway station and various operational facilities in Jammu.
The inspection was led by the principal chief safety officer, accompanied by divisional railway manager Vivek Kumar, and other senior officers of the Jammu division were present during the inspection.
Officials said that the committee carried out a comprehensive review of passenger safety and operational preparedness, examining key facilities, including the Jammu station yard panel, lobby and coaching depot. The inspection also covered the signalling system, the maintenance of railway tracks and the technical aspects related to train operations, they said.
During the visit, the Northern Railway officers interacted with ground-level staff and counselled them on safety norms, sensitising them about the precautions to be followed during rail operations to ensure strict compliance with safety standards.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said that the primary objective of the inspection was to ensure proper maintenance of safety infrastructure.
