Bengaluru: Rail connectivity between Bengaluru, Mangaluru and parts of Kerala was significantly disrupted Sunday after a landslip occurred along the ghat section between Yedakumari and Shrivagilu in Hassan district. According to South Western Railway (SWR), soil slipped onto the railway track around 8.45pm Saturday.Soon after the incident was reported five trains running along the ghats immediately came to halt at nearby stations. By 7.58pm Train No. 17378 Mangaluru Central Vijayapura Express reached the Shrivagilu station and became the first train to be detained here. This was followed by Train No 16586 Murudeshwar-SMVT Bengaluru express which arrived at Subrahmanya Road railway station at 8.50pm, minutes after the calamity struck.Train No. 16512 Kozhikode-KSR Bengaluru Express was halted at Neralakatte station at 9.56pm followed by the Panchaganga Express which was delayed in both directions. By 11.30pm, SWR confirmed that an additional train carrying relief material reached the landslip hit site to support traffic restoration along the restoration teams.With several trains still stuck in the region overnight, SWR’s Mysuru division had arranged refreshments for passengers at Hassan, Subrahmanya Road, Shrivagilu and Bantwala railway stations.At 12.30am Sunday, the Panchaganga express between Karwar-KSR Bengaluru was diverted through Kerala, taking a longer route to the Karnataka capital through Mangaluru, Palakkad, Erode and Jolarpettai. Along the diverted route, the train had only reached Salem at 12.47pm even six hours after its scheduled arrival time at KSR Bengaluru.By 3.50am, SWR announced the short termination of 7 trains stuck at several stations along the route. These trains included 16585 SMVT Bengaluru-Murudeshwar Express, 16511 and KSR Bengaluru-Kozhikode express which were terminated at Hassan. Trains to and from Bengaluru were also terminated at Sakaleshpur, Subrahmanya Road and Kabaka Puttur stations.Manjunath Kanamadi, SWR’s chief public relations officer, said repeated landslips have occurred due to heavy rainfall. “Additional machines and resources are being deployed. Officials are coordinating efforts to ensure safe and efficient restoration of operations”Cancellations & route changesSWR cancelled two trains between Bengaluru and Mangaluru scheduled for Sunday. The Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Jn express was cancelled in both directions.By 9.30 am, three more trains were cancelled, including the Panchaganga Express, which had been short-terminated Saturday, and the Vijayapura–Hubballi passenger service. As restoration work continued, the Railways diverted six trains at 12.30 pm, avoiding the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road ghat section.Trains between Hubballi and Mangaluru were diverted through Goa along Madgaon, Castle Rock and Londa. Those enroute to Bengaluru had to be diverted through Kerala along Shoranur, Palakkad and Jolarpettai.“The restoration work is expected to be delayed due to continuous rainfall based on information from field officials” the zone clarified at 7:30 pm.Three trains for Monday cancelledTrain No. 16515 Yesvantpur – Karwar Express, Train No. 16576 Mangaluru Jn – Yesvantpur Gomateshwara Express and Train No. 16596 Karwar – KSR Bengaluru Panchaganga Express have been cancelled.
