India-Pakistan War: Train Tickets To Vaishno Devi Being Cancelled?
News18 undertook a fact-check to separate rumour from reality, and found that far from being cancelled, trains to Jammu and Katra are running at full capacity
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate to war, reports of train ticket cancellations to Jammu and Katra have sparked widespread concerns. With fears escalating following the Pahalgam attack and India’s meticulously-planned airstrikes under Operation Sindoor against terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), social media has been flooded with claims suggesting a wave of travellers backing out of planned trips to the region. However, a deeper investigation reveals a strikingly different truth.
News18 undertook a fact-check to separate rumour from reality, and found that far from being cancelled, trains to Jammu and Katra are running at full capacity, with no seats available in the coming days. According to data from the IRCTC portal, passengers attempting to book seats are being met with waitlist statuses or outright regret messages, indicating a continued surge in demand despite national security concerns.
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Flagship trains such as the Jat Duronto (12226), Vande Bharat Express (22477), All Jat Express (12413), Shri Shakti Express (22461), Uttar Sampark Kranti (12445), Swaraj Express (12471), Malwa Express (12919), and the Rajdhani Express (12425) are all fully booked. Not a single confirmed berth is available in these major services, defying the narrative of public fear or hesitation.
The rumours began shortly after Operation Sindoor, a high-profile counterterror campaign by Indian Air Force (IAF), intensified in border regions. The operation, widely seen as India’s assertive response to cross-border terrorism, sparked fears of escalation, leading many to assume that travel to the region would see a sharp decline. However, the ongoing rush for train tickets suggests otherwise.
Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar dismissed reports of cancelled trains as entirely baseless. No train on the Jammu-Katra route has been cancelled, he confirmed, adding that the viral posts claiming mass cancellations are misleading and have no basis in fact.
Earlier on Friday, the Border Security Force said it had killed seven terrorists who were trying to infiltrate from across the India-Pakistan International Border in Jammu, and also destroyed a Rangers post.
The incident took place in the Samba sector on the intervening night of May 8-9 after a “big group" of terrorists was detected by the surveillance grid.
This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pakistan Rangers post Dhandhar, a BSF spokesperson said.
On Thursday night, India neutralised Pakistan military’s attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones.
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