Hubballi: Many Tranis were diverted due to heavy rain and land sliding in the Ghat section of Hubballi Division of South Western Railway (SWR).
According to South Western Railway (SWR) bulletin, landslides have been reported at two locations between Dudhsagar-Sonaulim Stations at about 0600 hrs and Caranzol-Dudhsagar Stations at about 0620 hrs today.
The Train no. 01134 Mangaluru Jn – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Express Spl (which was running on the diverted route via Madgaon-Londa-Miraj due to overflow of Vashishti River between Chiplun and Kamathe), suffered a derailment between Dudhsagar-Sonaulim section. (1 GEN coach next to engine and the engine partially derailed) No passenger casualty has been reported (no injury/death).
The passengers of the affected coach have been shifted to other coaches. The train is being pulled back to Kulem, and has crossed Sonaulim at this time.
Train no 02780 Hazrat Nizamuddin – Vasco da Gama Express Spl (which was bound to Vasco da Gama was detained in the section between Caranzol – Dudhsagar owing to the landslide, This train is being pulled back to Castle Rock, as per the statement.
Accident Relief Train (ART) from Castle Rock as well as from Vasco da Gama were immediately despatched to the site, as per the standard protocol to carry out restoration measures. SWR had already taken contingency measures prior to the start of the rainy season, at suitable stations for any exigency in Ghat section in heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.SWR Release said.
As part of Monsoon Reserve, JCB, Hitachi and wagon loaded with boulders were kept ready at Castle Rock, Tinaighat and Kulem.
The same have been pressed into service to the spot of landslide along with the team of trained technicians to carry out restoration of track/train services at the earliest. The team of Senior Officials of Hubballi Division including Divisional Railway Manager Shri Aravind Malkhede and senior Officers from HeadQuarters of SWR, have rushed to the site and are taking immediate measures to carry out restoration. Precautionary measures to prevent further land slip at the site also, are being taken.
There are 345 passengers on board Train no 01134 and 887 passengers on board Train no 02780. All are reported to be safe. Arrangements for transhipment of passengers to buses will be made at suitable location. For passengers of Train no 02780 the buses arrangement will be made at Londa towards destinations such as Vasco da Gama, Belagavi, Hubballi by road. For the passengers of 01134 alternate transportation arrangements will be made from Madgaon/Mangaluru Jn based on feedback from passengers.
Arrangements for tea, snacks, drinking water are made at Castle Rock Station and Kulem Station for the passengers of Train no 02780 and Train no 01134, respectively, the statement added.