Vande Bharat Train in Kashmir: Viral Video Shows Snow-Covered Journey Through Banihal | Kereta Api Vande Bharat di Kashmir: Video Viral Menunjukkan Perjalanan yang Dilitupi Salji Melalui Banihal

Snow-laden peaks, white-draped tracks and a sleek orange-grey Vande Bharat slicing through Banihal have turned Kashmir’s winter rail scene into a viral spectacle. A fresh clip of the Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat gliding through snow-clad Banihal is circulating widely, drawing comparisons to “Switzerland in India” and reigniting curiosity about the Valley’s new all-weather rail lifeline.

The postcard-like video, shot near the Banihal stretch of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), shows the semi-high-speed train moving steadily over tracks buried under thick snow, its headlights piercing low clouds. Shared first by Banihal MLA Sajjad Shaheen and reshared by several platforms, the clip has now become one of the season’s most-watched Kashmir reels.

Vande Bharat in Banihal snow: what the viral video shows

In the short clip, the Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat emerges against a backdrop of snow-covered hills, tunnels and catenary masts, underlining how the USBRL corridor is holding up in peak winter. Viewers have flooded social media with comments likening the visuals to European alpine routes, turning Banihal’s normally rugged image into a soft-focus winter tourism poster.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also posted similar footage from the Banihal sector on 23 January, captioned “The all-weather Vande Bharat Kashmir”, highlighting that the service ran even as parts of the Valley battled heavy snowfall. The ministry has projected the Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat as a symbol of reliable connectivity in conditions that often ground both road and air traffic.

USBRL winter operations, speed checks and safety regime

Behind the dramatic visuals is a tight winter protocol that Indian Railways follows on the USBRL section. Officials deploy snow-cutters and track gangs along vulnerable stretches such as Banihal and Qazigund, clearing fresh accumulation before allowing scheduled traffic. During intense spells, sectional controllers can impose speed restrictions, often dropping speeds well below Vande Bharat’s normal operational profile for safety margins.

While the Vande Bharat set is built for 160 kmph and typically runs up to 110–120 kmph on suitable terrain, winter operations through Kashmir’s tunnels, gradients and sharp curves are governed by highly conservative limits. Drivers run under caution orders, with continuous monitoring of overhead equipment, visibility and track clearance, making “semi-high-speed” in Kashmir more about assured timing than raw velocity on snow days.

Today’s status: specials replace Vande Bharat on key days

As visuals trend, operational planners are juggling harsh weather and growing passenger demand. After heavy snowfall shut the Jammu–Srinagar highway and disrupted flights on 23 January, officials confirmed that the Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat was used to evacuate stranded passengers that day, but will not run on 27 and 28 January.

Northern Railway’s Jammu division has instead scheduled special reserved trains between SMVD Katra and Srinagar on those dates, with halts at Banihal, describing them as an “alternative to the Vande Bharat train” in view of bad weather and forecast warnings. Timings shared by divisional officials show the specials broadly mirroring the Vande Bharat’s three-hour corridor timing, keeping rail as the most dependable mode for now.

Date	Service	Route	Remarks
23 Jan 2026	Vande Bharat	Katra–Srinagar	Operated amid snowfall; carried stranded flyers and road passengers
27–28 Jan 2026	Special reserved trains	Katra–Srinagar via Banihal	Planned as replacement; Vande Bharat not running on these days

Symbolism and impact beyond the viral reel

The Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat, flagged off in June 2025, cut the journey to about three hours and turned the USBRL into a year-round headline project rather than just an engineering story. For local residents, the train’s snow-laced reels now double as proof that rail can stay open when the highway and runway both fall silent.

For tourism stakeholders, the Switzerland comparisons may bring a short-term spike in interest, but officials are more focused on showing that Kashmir’s modern rail link can withstand recurring winter shocks. As the Banihal video keeps circulating, planners see a useful message beneath the aesthetics: the Valley’s most vulnerable months are slowly acquiring a steadier, rail-led backbone.