The heavy rains triggered a landslide near Parassala railway station in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district early Thursday, October 22, causing the locomotive of the Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Superfast Express to derail and disrupting train services along the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil route.
The incident happened at 2:19 am in Neyyattinkara-Parassala section, close to kilometre 249 of the railway line. Train No. 22619 had stopped after soil and debris slipped on the tracks due to heavy rainfall.
According to railway information, the locomotive derailed when the train was halted in the affected section. There were no injuries among passengers or railway staff.
Railway authorities immediately offered support and started restoration work to remove the obstruction and train movement was resumed. There were several passenger and long-distance services on the route affected.
Landslip leads to Locomotive Derailment
The incident happened amid persistent rainfall throughout southern Kerala. Heavy rain caused soil to slip onto the railway track near Parassala, creating a dangerous obstruction for trains operating through the area.
The Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Superfast Express was stopped in the affected area. During this time, the locomotive derailed, disrupting rail traffic on the important route connecting southern Kerala with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
According to reports, four wheels of the locomotive came off the tracks. Railway personnel were deployed to evaluate the situation and start clearing the affected section.
The train’s passengers and railway staff were safe, and there were no injuries.
The disruption prompted railway authorities to arrange a relief locomotive to move the affected train. An Accident Relief Train, as well as staff and equipment required for restoration, was also sent to the site.
Several Train Services Delayed
The derailment disrupted multiple train services in the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil section. The railway authorities said three trains were held at different locations after the accident.
These included the Tambaram-Thiruvananthapuram Central Special held at Eraniel, Madurai-Punalur Express held at North Panakudi, and Tambaram-Thiruvananthapuram Central Amrit Bharat Express held at Nanguneri.
A number of other services also suffered from the disruption.
The Kanniyakumari-Mangaluru Central Parasuram Express was expected to be delayed. The passenger services between Nagercoil, Punalur, and Thiruvananthapuram were also affected, with delays anticipated for trains scheduled to depart during the morning.
The disruption was also expected to affect long-distance services like the Guruvayur-Chennai Egmore Express and Pune-Kanniyakumari Express.
Passengers in the affected section were advised to check updated train running information before they left for their trains, as restoration work could have an impact on departure and arrival times.
Railway authorities Begin Restoration Work
Railway officials arranged emergency help to move the train and clear the tracks. The Accident Relief Train was put into operation with the equipment and staff needed to carry out restoration.
The immediate task was to remove the soil and debris, respond to the locomotive derailment, and ensure that the railway line was safe for normal operation to resume.
The restoration process involved an assessment of the affected track and removal of obstructions caused by the landslip. Normal train movement depended on the completion of the necessary work and safety checks.
The incident showed the operational difficulties faced by railway authorities during periods of intense rainfall and soil movement affecting railway infrastructure.
Heavy Rain Raises Concerns Over Landslips in Kerala
Kerala has been experiencing a spell of wet weather, with the India Meteorological Department issuing rainfall alerts for several districts. The forecasts issued earlier in the week warned of continued rain and thunderstorms, with the possibility of localized flooding, landslips, and other weather-related disruptions.
Heavy or prolonged rainfall can saturate soil and weaken slopes, increasing the risk of soil movement onto roads and railway tracks. Such incidents can disrupt transport services and create safety concerns for commuters.
The railway incident at Parassala occurred as authorities were dealing with the effects of the ongoing rainy spell in southern Kerala.
Railway officials were working to restore the affected section and minimize the impact on other services. Passengers traveling through the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil corridor were advised to remain alert to service updates and allow additional time for their journeys.
The locomotive derailment caused significant disruption to train movement, but the absence of reported injuries meant that the incident did not result in casualties. Further operational updates depended on the progress of restoration work at the site.
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