3 days ago
Rain-Driven Soil Slippage Suspends Shimla-Kalka Toy Train Services
Heavy rain washed away soil under part of a railway track in Himachal Pradesh.
The damaged section is near Bridge No.
57 between Koti and Gumman stations.
About 10 to 15 metres of track was left hanging above the ground.
Railway officials stopped the toy trains on Saturday night to keep people safe.
They cancelled 10 trains on Sunday.
More than 400 travellers and train workers were evacuated, according to a railway press note.
Officials said trains can return only after the track is checked and secured.
The rain also damaged roads, electricity equipment and water-supply systems across the state.
Soil washed away near Bridge No. 57 between Koti and Gumman stations in Solan district.
About 10 to 15 metres of the Shimla-Kalka track was left suspended in the air.
Railway authorities halted services on Saturday night and cancelled 10 trains on Sunday.
Services will resume only after officials inspect and secure the damaged track.
Rain also closed 64 Himachal Pradesh roads and affected power and water infrastructure.
- Who
- Railway officials, passengers, train workers and travellers on the Shimla-Kalka route were affected; officials including Sanjay Gevar reported the cancellations.
- What
- Soil slippage washed away the foundation beneath a section of track, suspending services and cancelling 10 trains.
- Where
- Near Bridge No. 57 between Koti and Gumman stations on the Shimla-Kalka line in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh.
- When
- The damage was reported around 9 p.m. Saturday; cancellations were announced for Sunday, August 30.
- Why
- Persistent or incessant rain caused soil to slip away from beneath the track, leaving it exposed and unsafe.
Railway and Official Account
Passenger and Local Impact
Safety response
Railway and Official Account
Railway officials halted services, inspected the site and said trains would resume only after the track was assessed and secured. A railway press note described the evacuation of more than 400 travellers and train workers as prompt and seamless.
Passenger and Local Impact
Passengers with pre-booked toy-train tickets faced inconvenience, and reports said Shimla station was unusually quiet after the cancellations.
Extent of disruption
Railway and Official Account
Officials presented the cancellations as a necessary response to soil slippage and repeated monsoon disruptions on the heritage line.
Passenger and Local Impact
The cancellations affected a popular tourist service, while rain and landslides also disrupted roads and other infrastructure across Himachal Pradesh.
Key facts
- Cancelled trains
- 10 services between Kalka and Shimla on Sunday
- Damaged section
- Near Bridge No. 57 between Koti and Gumman stations
- Track left unsupported
- Approximately 10 to 15 metres
- Railway line
- 96 kilometres long, with 102 tunnels, 800 bridges and 919 bends
- Evacuation
- More than 400 travellers and train workers, according to a railway press note
- Wider infrastructure damage
- 64 roads closed, 225 power transformers affected and nine water-supply schemes hit
- Weather forecast
- Heavy rainfall was forecast in isolated areas from August 31 or August 31 to September 3
- Reported statewide losses
- About 103 to 104 rain-related deaths and Rs 1,184 crore in losses; reports differed on the death toll
Quotes
Northern Railway
The railway organization that issued a press note about the rescue operation
“Following a hill slip yesterday at Bridge No. 57 between the Koti and Ghumman stations on the Shimla-Kalka UNESCO World Heritage section, Northern Railway officials executed a prompt and seamless rescue operation, ensuring zero inconvenience to travelers.”
theprint.in
Sources
Bridge on Shimla-Kalka line loses foundation due to soil slippage; train service suspended
Himachal rains leave Shimla ‘toy train’ track hanging after soil slips, 10 services cancelled
Himachal: ‘Toy trains’ cancelled as section of Shimla-Kalka line hangs mid-air due to soil slippage
Bridge On Shimla-Kalka Toy Train Line Loses Foundation Due To Soil Slippage
Kalka-Shimla toy train tracks left hanging in air as soil beneath bridge washes away, service suspended
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