Kalka-Shimla Heritage Rail Services Suspended Following Landslide

SHIMLA: Ten trains on the Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge railway line, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were cancelled on Sunday after heavy rain washed away soil supporting a section of the track in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district.

According to railway officials, soil slippage between Koti and Gumman stations left a portion of the track suspended in the air, prompting authorities to suspend operations on the affected stretch on Saturday night as a precautionary measure. Shimla Railway Station Superintendent Sanjay Gevar said 10 trains running between Kalka and Shimla were cancelled on Sunday. Services will resume only after the track is secured and its safety is assessed.

A railway notification stated that soil around the track near Bridge No. 57 between Koti and Gumman stations had been washed away due to continuous rainfall. The cancellation of the popular 'toy train' service caused inconvenience to passengers who had booked tickets in advance. The impact was visible at Shimla railway station, which remained quieter than usual on a weekend, with fewer tourists and travellers.

Train services on the Kalka-Shimla heritage line have faced repeated disruptions this monsoon season due to rain-related incidents and landslides. The 96-km Kalka-Shimla railway line, known for traversing challenging mountain terrain, features 102 tunnels, around 800 bridges and 919 curves, making it one of the country's most iconic engineering achievements and a major tourist attraction.

Meanwhile, rainfall continued across parts of Himachal Pradesh, leading to the closure of 64 roads as of Sunday morning. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, 24 roads were closed in Mandi district, 16 in Kullu, seven each in Kangra and Sirmaur, four in Una, three in Shimla, two in Chamba and one in Lahaul-Spiti. In addition, 225 power transformers and nine water supply schemes were affected.

The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued an alert for heavy rainfall at isolated places across the state from August 31 to September 3. Light to moderate rainfall was recorded in several areas since Saturday evening. Dhaulakuan received 38.5 mm of rain, followed by Ghaghas (30 mm), Palampur (23.8 mm), Murari Devi (22 mm), Kahu (11.6 mm) and Pandoh (10 mm). The weather office also reported thunderstorms and lightning activity in some regions.

Officials said that since the onset of the monsoon on June 30, at least 103 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Himachal Pradesh. The state has also suffered losses estimated at Rs 1,184 crore during the period.