Aluva, parts of Kochi submerged

Kochi: The severe flood situation forced the Railways to suspend train services between Thiruvananth- apuram and Palakkad via Kottayam while the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) stopped most of its services to eastern destinations like Thodupuzha and Kumily by Thursday evening.

“The train services in Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam section through Kottayam and that in the Ernakulam-Shornur section were suspended by 4 pm on Thursday for one day. This after the water flow at railway bridges, especially that at Piravom Road station, Periyar Bridge near Aluva station and Chalakudi bridge, crossed the danger level,” said a railway spokesperson.

However, the railways would continue to operate train services between Thiruvanant- hapuram and Ernakulam via Alappuzha at reduced speed.

"Most of the long haul trains from Thiruvananthapuram have been diverted via Tirunelveli,” the official said. This even as hundreds of passengers got stranded at stations like Ernakulam and Chowara. The KSRTC too was forced to cancel many of its services via the MC Road as traffic got disrupted at places like Chengannur, Muvatt-upuzha, Kalady, Chalakudy, Thrissur and Palakkad. 

“Services on the Thrissur-Shornur route too were stopped after a landslide reported at Wadakkanchery and the bridge across Bharathapuzha at Shornur closed. Similarly, the services from Ernakulam to Eastern destinations, except to Kottayam via Vaikom, and that to Aluva and North Paravur were stopped. “We’ve extended free transportation of relief materials in KSRTC buses till August 22,” said a senior KSRTC official. The Kochi Metro services too were stopped from Wednesday night with the flood waters entering the Muttom metro yard. However, the services restarted from 4 pm on Thursday with hundreds getting stranded.  “Free services were operated to help stranded passengers,” said a spokesperson.