Heavy rainfall has caused fresh damage to the historic Kalka Shimla narrow gauge railway line in Himachal Pradesh, forcing railway authorities to suspend train operations along the route as a safety measure.
The Kalka Shimla railway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of India’s best known mountain railway routes. The line is particularly popular with tourists travelling between Kalka in Haryana and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. The latest disruption has occurred amid persistent rainfall and soil instability in the region.
According to railway officials, continuous rain caused soil to slip from beneath a portion of the track in Solan district. The affected stretch was reported near Bridge Number 57 between Koti and Gumman stations. The erosion removed the earth supporting the railway structure and left a section of the track exposed and suspended above the ground.
Officials said approximately 10 to 15 metres of soil supporting the track had been washed away. The condition of the track prompted railway authorities to halt operations on the affected route on Saturday night.
The decision to suspend services was taken primarily for passenger safety. Mountain railway lines are particularly vulnerable to heavy rainfall because steep slopes, drainage channels and supporting embankments can be affected by landslides and soil erosion.
Following the incident, railway engineering and maintenance teams were sent to the affected location to assess the extent of the damage. Restoration work will have to ensure that the supporting soil and track foundation are sufficiently strengthened before trains are permitted to operate again.
The disruption affected multiple trains operating between Kalka and Shimla. Railway officials said ten train services were cancelled on Sunday as the damaged section remained unsafe for regular operations. Services are expected to resume only after the affected track is secured and its condition has been properly assessed.
The railway administration has also advised passengers to take note of service updates while planning their journeys on the heritage route. Travellers who had booked tickets on the affected services may need to make alternative arrangements until railway operations are restored.
The Kalka Shimla railway has a long history and is known for its engineering achievements in the Himalayan foothills. The narrow gauge line was opened in the early twentieth century and passes through mountainous terrain, numerous tunnels, bridges and curves. Its scenic journey has made it an important attraction for tourists visiting Shimla.
The railway route has faced weather related disruptions in the past. Heavy rainfall can trigger landslides and wash away sections of the soil supporting the track, creating significant challenges for railway maintenance teams. Indian Railways has previously undertaken emergency restoration work on the line following monsoon related damage.
The latest incident comes during a period of severe weather across Himachal Pradesh. Persistent rainfall has caused disruption to roads and other infrastructure in several parts of the state. Authorities have been monitoring vulnerable locations and taking measures to restore damaged infrastructure.
In a separate report concerning the same broader stretch of the railway route, heavy rain also caused damage near the Gumman and Taksal stations, where a culvert was reported to have been washed away. Railway authorities subsequently halted train movement because of safety concerns.
The reports indicate the continuing vulnerability of the Kalka Shimla railway to extreme weather conditions. Maintaining the line requires regular inspection of bridges, culverts, retaining structures, drainage systems and track foundations, particularly during the monsoon season.
The present restoration effort will focus on stabilising the damaged section and ensuring that the track can safely support train operations. Railway authorities are expected to inspect the surrounding area for further signs of soil movement before reopening the route.
For tourists and local residents, the suspension is likely to cause temporary travel difficulties because the toy train is an important transport and tourism link between the plains and the hill station.
Despite the disruption, railway officials have prioritised passenger safety over immediate restoration. Train services will resume only after the damaged portion has been repaired and the railway authorities are satisfied with its structural safety.
The latest incident once again highlights the challenges of operating a heritage railway through a mountainous landscape during periods of intense rainfall. The focus now remains on completing emergency restoration work and safely reopening the historic Kalka Shimla railway route.