India, June 10 -- National Conference president Farooq Abdullah took his first ride on the newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express from Srinagar to Katra on Tuesday and said he was "overwhelmed" to see Kashmir finally connected to India's rail network.

Donning a sun-visor hat, Farooq Abdullah boarded the train from Nowgam Railway Station in Srinagar. He was greeted at the Katra terminal - the base camp for Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims - by deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary and Jammu NC president Rattan Lal Gupta.

"Mata ne bulaya hai. Aaya hai bulawa shera wali ka" said National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah as he reached Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station on the Vande Bharat train from Nowgam Railway Station.

Former Ja...