Heaven on rails: Vande Bharat slices through snow-clad Kashmir

Srinagar (The Uttam Hindu): A video of the Vande Bharat Express speeding through the beautiful valleys and snow-capped mountains of Jammu and Kashmir is making waves on social media. This captivating video was shared by Banihal MLA Sajjad Shaheen, and has since gone viral on the internet. In this few-second clip, the train can be seen speeding through the thick layer of snow in the lap of the Himalayas. The whiteness that stretches from the tracks to the mountains makes this scene a magical experience.

After decades, the dream came true, the valley connected to the country

This viral video is not only a testament to the natural beauty but also India's engineering prowess in challenging geographical conditions. It's worth noting that in 2023, Kashmir was directly connected to the rest of India by rail for the first time. The completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has provided the valley with the all-weather connectivity it had been waiting for for decades. Previously, heavy snowfall in winter would often close roads, cutting off Kashmir's connectivity. However, the rail network has largely eliminated this dependence.

The world's highest bridge above the clouds

The crowning glory of this entire rail network is the Chenab Bridge. It's the world's highest railway arch bridge, perched 359 meters above the Chenab River bed. This magnificent example of Indian engineering is specially designed to withstand strong earthquakes, fierce winds, and sub-zero temperatures. This is why videos of trains running through snow and ice are now common, illustrating the nation's progress.

The wheels did not stop even in the bitter cold.

These days, Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing severe cold, and heavy snowfall continues in the upper reaches. In such circumstances, where highways and roads remain closed for days, the railways have kept traffic flowing smoothly. Thanks to modern railway systems, safe tunnel designs, advanced technology, and continuous snow-clearance operations on the tracks, train movement continues uninterrupted even in the harsh winter.