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).

Improved inflows into the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin on Saturday, following heavy rains in the catchment area, have brought some relief to Karnataka amid the ongoing row over the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had directed Karnataka to release water at the rate of 3,500 cusecs daily for 15 days, triggering protests from farmers, who urged the State government not to release water, citing poor storage levels and deficient rainfall.

However, with the southwest monsoon turning active and rain in the catchment areas, the situation improved on Saturday. If the rains continue, reservoir levels are expected to rise further.

Kabini reservoir in Mysuru district is now just two and half feet short of its full reservoir level (FRL), with the water level touching 2,281.43 feet on Saturday against the maximum level of 2,284 feet following increase in inflows. The rise is largely owing to heavy rainfall in the reservoir’s catchment areas in Kerala.

Earlier in the day, Kabini dam authorities issued a flood alert for people living downstream after inflows surged. By 3 p.m., water was being released at the rate of 5,000 cusecs from the reservoir, which went up at the rate of 12,000 cusecs at 8 p.m. with the rise in inflow.

At Harangi

In Kodagu, rain has boosted inflows into the Harangi reservoir. At 4 p.m. on Saturday, Harangi was receiving an inflow of 16,880 cusecs, while the outflow was at the rate of 19,700 cusecs. However, the outflow dropped to 12,500 cusecs with decrease in inflow which was 10,000 cusecs at 8 p.m. Also, the dam’s water level reached 2,857.30 feet against the maximum of 2,859 feet. Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks recorded heavy rainfall during the past 24 hours.

At the KRS reservoir in Mandya district, the water level stood at 95.57 feet against the maximum level of 124.80 feet. The inflow at 8 p.m. was at the rate of 20,438 cusecs, while the outflow was at the rate of 1,768 cusecs, mainly for canal and drinking water supply. Continued rainfall in Kodagu over the next few days is expected to further improve inflows, easing concerns over the Cauvery issue.

The realisation of the Cauvery water was measured at Biligundlu on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu.

Amid the improved monsoon conditions, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who has convened an all-party meeting on Sunday to discuss the CWRC order and seek suggestions of the Opposition leaders on Karnataka’s stand, expressed relief over the rising reservoir levels. Responding to the release of water from Kabini dam, he remarked, “How could we hold back water?”

The Chief Minister, who was in Mysuru on Saturday, said he had offered prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi Hills for timely rains and the welfare of farmers with the State facing a prolonged dry spell. Mr. Shivakumar added, “May all those dependent on the Cauvery river, including the people of Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, live in peace and happiness.”

Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu has said that crop loss compensation of ₹63.16 crore had been disbursed to 65,217 beneficiary farmers in Dharwad district in Karnataka, as per NDRF and SDRF guidelines.

According to a press release issued by the district administration, crop loss was reported on 72,909.36 hectares in six taluks of Dharwad district till the end of August during 2025-26 financial year.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, the payments were made through the ‘Bhoomi Parihara’ software based on crop survey data, FRUITS ID-linked farmers, and the final joint survey reports on crop damage.

Taluk-wise details

As per the data, compensation of ₹10.60 crore has been disbursed to 11,981 farmers covering 12,462.49 hectares in Dharwad taluk.

₹18.75 crore has been distributed to 18,433 farmers for crop loss in 20,685.16 hectares in Navalgund taluk, ₹11.78 crore to 11,058 farmers for 13,856.43 hectares in Hubballi taluk, ₹9.58 crore to 10,912 farmers for 11,261.02 hectares in Kundagol taluk, ₹65.51 lakh to 839 farmers for 769.12 hectares in Hubballi Urban taluk, and ₹11.79 crore to 11,994 farmers for 13,875.13 hectares in Annigeri taluk.