Heavy monsoon rains have once again disrupted rail connectivity between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, with fresh landslides in the Western Ghats forcing the suspension of trains on one of the railway corridors in Karnataka.
According to the South Western Railway (SWR), heavy rainfall in the ghat section has triggered another landslide between Surikumeru and Edakumeru, causing huge amounts of mud and rock to fall onto the railway tracks. Train operations on the route have been severely affected as a result.
The railway line has been blocked, and restoration work is still ongoing. But with rain still pummeling the region, authorities have warned that clearing work is still not progressing and train services are yet to be fully resumed.
Around 10 Trains Affected
As a precautionary measure, South Western Railway’s Mysuru Division has cancelled several trains and diverted the routes of others to ensure passenger safety.
The disruption has affected almost 10 train services and left hundreds of people stranded at different stations, especially Hassan, where more than 10 trains had to be cancelled after authorities suspended movement on the part of the railway line affected.
Railway officials emphasized that passenger safety remains the top priority and services would not be resumed until engineers verified that the track is safe for operation.
Landslides repeated due to continuous rains
Over the past several days, the Western Ghats region has been receiving heavy rainfall. The area between Subrahmanya Road (Netravathi) and Sakleshpur has been hit by landslides, with mud, rocks, and debris falling onto the tracks.
The latest landslide has once again buried parts of the railway line, making it very unsafe for trains to travel. Heavy equipment is being used by railway personnel and engineering teams to remove the debris and restore the line.
Even so, intermittent rainfall continues to hamper restoration efforts, raising concerns that more landslides may happen.
Passengers Face Long Delays
Passengers travelling between Bengaluru and Mangaluru have also been forced to change their travel plans due to the number of train cancellations, diversions, and delays.
Many are stuck at Hassan Railway Station, waiting for news from railway authorities. Others have been advised to check the latest train status before going out.
People have been advised to cooperate with the railway staff and to rely only on public announcements about train schedules and service restoration.
Restoration Work Underway
The engineering teams are constantly monitoring vulnerable sections of the railway track across the ghat region. Safety inspections are being carried out before any decision is taken to restart train operations.
The authorities have said services will resume only after the tracks are fully cleared and certified safe, as passenger safety is the priority.
The Bengaluru-Mangaluru railway route passes through the beautiful but landslide-prone Western Ghats and is frequently disrupted during heavy monsoon.
