logo
Srinagar flights get more scenic as air travellers capture Chenab rail bridge photos from the sky while pilots make special announcements

Srinagar flights get more scenic as air travellers capture Chenab rail bridge photos from the sky while pilots make special announcements

Economic Times3 days ago

Chenab railway bridge from Srinagar flights( https://www.instagram.com/pranab_pati/)
In the days following the inauguration of the Chenab Railway Bridge, a remarkable shift has taken place—not just on the ground, but in the skies. Passengers flying over Jammu and Kashmir have turned into accidental aerial photographers, capturing breathtaking views of one of India's most iconic engineering achievements from 30,000 feet in the air. The world's highest railway arch bridge has not only redefined connectivity in the region but also become a moment of collective pride for travellers who spot it from their flight windows.
From the air, the Chenab Bridge is a visual marvel—its sweeping arch stretches across the mighty Chenab River, seamlessly connecting two mountainous cliffs in the rugged terrain of the Reasi district. Its dramatic presence, framed by winding rivers and lush hills, creates a postcard-perfect sight that instantly inspires awe. The clarity with which the massive structure reveals itself from the sky has turned routine flights into memorable journeys. Flight crews now often announce the landmark as the aircraft approaches the region, prompting passengers to rush to their windows and capture the sight with phones and cameras.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by প্রণব পতি (@pranab_pati)
One particular aerial video recently shared by a traveller flying from Srinagar to Delhi shows the bridge in full glory, cutting majestically through the landscape. The video quickly went viral, drawing widespread appreciation for the feat of Indian engineering. It has become common for claps to erupt mid-air as passengers recognize what they are seeing. In some cases, the moment has moved people to tears of pride.
The bridge, which towers 359 metres above the riverbed—35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower—is now more than just an infrastructure project. It is a symbol of ambition, perseverance, and the power of engineering to unite a region long cut off by geography. Built as part of the larger Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, the Chenab Bridge connects Katra to Sangaldan, and ultimately, will link New Delhi to the Kashmir Valley via rail for the first time in Indian history.
The railway line now allows trains, including the newly flagged Vande Bharat Express, to traverse a route that once took six to seven hours by road in just about three hours. The convenience, safety, and efficiency this brings for residents, tourists, and pilgrims is monumental—but the emotional impact of this bridge is just as significant. The construction itself is a testament to India's engineering capabilities. The region posed numerous challenges, from seismic activity and treacherous terrain to harsh weather conditions. Engineers had to innovate continuously, even employing a world-class cable-crane system—the first time Indian Railways used such technology—to span a 915-metre-wide gorge. Two massive cable cars and towering pylons over 100 metres high helped ferry materials to the heart of the construction site. Over 28,000 metric tonnes of steel were used to complete the bridge, designed to withstand wind speeds up to 266 km/h. — AshwiniVaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) While aerial views continue to flood social media platforms, the excitement is not limited to those in the air. On the ground, villagers from nearby areas are trekking to higher vantage points to catch a glimpse of the bridge and document it with mobile phones. People are live-streaming from hillsides, sharing real-time footage on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

​Connecting bridge: on Kashmir, India and the Chenab Rail Bridge
​Connecting bridge: on Kashmir, India and the Chenab Rail Bridge

The Hindu

time4 hours ago

  • The Hindu

​Connecting bridge: on Kashmir, India and the Chenab Rail Bridge

'Kashmir to Kanniyakumari' is a figurative expression to denote the geographical expanse of India, from its northernmost point to its southern tip, and for the first time in history these are connected by rail. With the inauguration of the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project which has been 28 years in the making, the Kashmir Valley has been connected to the national rail network. The tough, unsurmountable topography of the Himalayas challenged the engineering capabilities of the Indian Railways, but it has come out with flying colours. The engineering marvel, the Chenab Rail Bridge, that stands 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower, is the world's highest railway arch bridge at 359 metres above the riverbed. Spanning 1,315 m, it will endure wind speeds of up to 260 km per hour and has been built to last 120 years. Nearby, the Anji Khad Bridge, rises boldly across the rugged terrain as India's first cable-stayed railway bridge. Towering 331 m above the riverbed and stretching 725 m across, it is anchored by 96 high-tensile cables; 8,200 metric tonnes of structural steel went into its construction. Built at a cost of ₹43,780 crore, the USBRL link witnessed drilling of mountains to set up 36 tunnels that span 119 kilometres and 943 bridges through ridges and mountain passes. Kashmir's decades of geographical isolation have finally come to an end. The Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar in the Kashmir region and Katra in the Jammu region, which was also flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cuts the surface journey to three hours between the two points. Later this year, a scheduled direct train service between the national capital New Delhi and Srinagar will allow commuters to touch base in just 13 hours compared to over 24 hours in the past. The Vande Bharat Express, a long-distance high-speed service, is bound to end the psychological barriers, multiply the development dividend and act as a game changer for the economy of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The train service has brought renewed hope to the region not long after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 pushed India and Pakistan to a short conflict. India's 'Operation Sindoor', against terror infrastructure across the border, saw Pakistan ending the ceasefire agreement and targeting civilians, leaving 18 dead and over 1,500 houses damaged. While inaugurating the train service in Katra, Mr. Modi rightly described the rail link as 'a symbol of a new, empowered J&K'. The bridge will go a long way to bring the people of Kashmir closer to the rest of India.

Karnataka third busiest Indian State for air travel
Karnataka third busiest Indian State for air travel

The Hindu

time4 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Karnataka third busiest Indian State for air travel

Karnataka is the third busiest Indian State for air travel after Delhi and Maharashtra. According to OAG's data on India's top 10 States by airline capacity (Domestic and International) for June 2025, Karnataka has 2.3 million seats and holds 11% of India's total market share. The data further stated that Karnataka's capacity increased by 13% in June 2025 compared to June 2024. Meanwhile, Delhi was the busiest State in India, with 3.6 million seats and a 17.4% share of India's total market. However, Delhi's capacity is 2% lower in June 2025 compared to June 2024. Maharashtra, which is the second busiest State with 3.5 million seats has 16.6% market share. 'Delhi is India's busiest airport for domestic flights with 2.6 million seats in June 2025, a 4% decrease compared to June 2024. Mumbai and Bengaluru are the second and third busiest airports, with 1.9 million and 1.8 million seats respectively for June 2025. Mumbai has a similar capacity to last year, but Bengaluru has increased by 9%,' stated the OAG data, which has been sourced from UK-based air consultancy firm's Schedules Analyser. As far as the top domestic routes in India by seats is concerned, four routes from Bengaluru figured in the top 10 domestic routes. 'Mumbai to Delhi is India's busiest domestic route with 616,459 seats; however, capacity is 7% lower than June 2024. Bengaluru to Delhi and Bengaluru to Mumbai are the second and third busiest domestic routes with 427,604 and 365,869 seats, but both saw a decrease of 1% and 9%, respectively. Capacity has increased the most on the Bengaluru to Hyderabad route adding 21% more seats to 247,759,' OAG said. Bengaluru, however, did not find a place in India's top 10 international routes. Mumbai to Dubai is the busiest international route from India followed by Delhi to Dubai and Delhi to London Heathrow.

Three Indian Women Removed From Spirit Airlines Flight After Argument With Flight Attendant
Three Indian Women Removed From Spirit Airlines Flight After Argument With Flight Attendant

News18

time4 hours ago

  • News18

Three Indian Women Removed From Spirit Airlines Flight After Argument With Flight Attendant

Last Updated: Three Indian women were removed from a Spirit Airlines flight in the US after arguing with a flight attendant, causing a delay of over an hour. A TikTok video has 4 million views. Three Indian women were removed from a Spirit Airlines flight in the United States after their argument with a flight attendant caused a delay of more than an hour. A video of the incident, posted on TikTok, has gone viral and shows three three passengers arguing with the attendant over some mistakes during in-flight announcements. The crew member reportedly made a mistake and said the flight, which was head to New York, was going to New Orleans. In the video, the flight attendant is heard acknowledging and apologising for her mistake but the three women continued to bring up the error, accusing her of not knowing the flight's destination. Watch the video here: You said — M ✨ (@thespicexqueen) June 7, 2025 The women further ignored the flight attendant's directions to stow their baggage in the overhead bin. The situation escalated when she finally warned them that they will be asked to deboard and, eventually, called the police to escort them off the plane. But, the situation did not resolve itself as the three women resisted the officials' attempt to get them to leave the flight. After a long standoff and the threat of jail time, the women gathered their luggage and deboarded the plane, causing a delay of over an hour. First Published: June 11, 2025, 23:41 IST

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store