Train services affected due to landslips on tracks between Yedakumari and Shirvagilu stations

Train services have been badly disrupted since Saturday night after landslips triggered by heavy rain hit the railway track between Yedakumari and Shirivagilu stations in Sakleshpur taluk. South Western Railways has cancelled three trains commencing on Monday, as the restoration work delayed.

Services connecting Mangaluru and Karwar with the State capital have been hit by repeated landslips caused by heavy rains in the Western Ghats. Huge blocks of debris covered the tracks, making it impossible for trains to operate on the stretch.

The first landslip was reported around 8.45 p.m. on Saturday. Officers of the Mysuru Division of the South Western Railway decided to halt trains bound for the stretch at the nearest stations, and cancelled or diverted several others. The Railways made alternative arrangements for affected passengers.

Restoration work began on the tracks on Saturday night itself, and a train carrying relief material reached the spot soon after. However, as repeated landslips slowed the work, train services remained badly affected through Sunday as well.

Railways set up catering arrangements at Hassan, Subrahmanya Road, Shirivagilu and Bantwal stations for the convenience of stranded passengers. Manjunath Kanamadi, Chief Public Relations Officer, South Western Railway, said restoration work was taking longer than expected because of the repeated landslips on the stretch. Alternative arrangements were also made for passengers at Hassan and Subrahmanya Road, where trains were halted on Saturday night.

A bulletin from the South Western Railways, on Sunday, informed the media that three trains, commencing on Monday have been cancelled. They are Yesvanthpur-Karwar Express (16515), Mangaluru Junction-Yesvanthpur (16576) and Karwar – KSR Bengaluru Panchaganga Express (16596).

Several trains were cancelled on Sunday too. They were the Mangaluru Junction–Yesvantpur Express (16540), the Yesvantpur–Mangaluru Junction Express (16575), the Bengaluru–Karwar Panchaganga Express (16595) and the Vijayapura–SSS Hubballi Passenger (56920).

Besides this, officials diverted several trains to alternative routes. These include the Vijayapura–Mangaluru Express (17377), the Mangaluru Central–Vijayapura Express (17378), the Murudeshwar–SMVT Bengaluru Express (16586), the Kozhikode–KSR Bengaluru Express (16512), the KSR Bengaluru–Kozhikode Express (16511) and the SMVT Bengaluru–Murudeshwar Express (16585).