History was made when Annapurna Express from Punjab reached directly to the warehouse in Kashmir. – ..

News India Live, Digital Desk: If you have ever traveled from Jammu to Srinagar in winter, you would know how dangerous and full of uncertainties that route is. Sometimes landslides and sometimes heavy snowfall… often thousands of trucks remain stuck between Ramban and Banihal for weeks. And when trucks get stuck, the prices of milk, vegetables and ration start skyrocketing in the valley. But friends, now this picture is about to change forever!

An incident happened last Sunday which has given a new direction to the ‘lifeline’ of Kashmir. A full-fledged goods train of Food Corporation of India (FCI) loaded with grains started from Firozpur in Punjab, crossed all the mountains and reached Anantnag railway station.

It’s not just a train, it’s a ‘protective shield’ for winter
You will be surprised to know that earlier all government ration used to reach the valley through trucks only. But now the goods train which has reached Anantnag, is carrying with it almost 1,384 tonnes of rice Has taken. This rice was loaded from Moga (Ajitwal) in Punjab.

Imagine, earlier about 70-80 big trucks would have been required to deliver this ration. Those trucks burn diesel, get stuck in traffic jams and cause pollution. But the train did this work in a jiffy, without stopping and without caring about the weather. This is a matter of relief for lakhs of families in the valley who used to live in fear every winter that “if the road is closed, how will food come?”

Farmers and traders of Kashmir will also benefit
It is not just a matter of ration coming, it is also a matter of going. Experts believe that when these goods trains return, they will not come empty. These can be filled with Kashmir’s famous apple, saffron and dry fruits and sent to the rest of the country. The apple which used to take 3-4 days by truck to reach Delhi, will now reach the market faster and fresher. This will save you transportation expenses!

Miracle of Railways and indication of future
When this train stopped at Anantnag station, there was a different glow on the faces of the officers present there. This is proof that the Indian Railways network in Kashmir is now coming into full ‘operational’ mode. This incident is a message of confidence not only for FCI but also for the common Kashmiri people whether it is Delhi or Punjab, the distance is just one train away.

Next time you eat Kashmiri pulao, remember that the rice might have reached the valleys not in a tired truck, but in a galloping train! This whistle of change is really very melodious.