Special train for children inaugurated in Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti flagged off the first children-special train in the Valley at Qazigund in south Kashmir. The train will run fortnightly exclusively for the children on alternate Sundays between Banihal in Jammu and Baramulla in north Kashmir. The idea for starting a special train was mooted by Mufti and was taken in view of the fact that children have generally limited facilities for an outing. The train service in the valley resumed only in the last week after a gap of five months following the street protests triggered by the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The train service in the Valley first began in 2008 when a 66 kilometre stretch between Anantnag and Mazham was inaugurated by the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.