Srinagar, June 11, KNT: National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah returned to Srinagar on Wednesday after a visit to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, marking the end of a personal pilgrimage he undertook using the newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express that now links Kashmir with India.
Farooq Abdullah, who spent the night at the holy shrine, described the experience as spiritually uplifting. “It was a fulfilling visit. We prayed for peace, harmony, and progress, not just for Jammu and Kashmir, but for the entire nation,” Farooq Abdullah told reporters upon his arrival.
Calling the train journey aboard the Vande Bharat his first, the former chief minister expressed optimism about the potential of the new service to transform travel and boost pilgrimage tourism. “This high-speed rail link is not just a convenience, it’s a new chapter for Kashmir. Pilgrims visiting both Vaishno Devi and Amarnath shrines will benefit tremendously,” he said. [KNT]
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday returned to Srinagar by the recently launched Vande Bharat Express after an overnight stay at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. pic.twitter.com/rm3aM8k3p9
— Kashmir News Trust༝ (@kntnewsagency) June 11, 2025
