Hassan: There will be no train services for at least another week on the Sakleshpur-Mangaluru line owing to the landslides in the Yadakumari-Subramanya section of the Western Ghats in Hassan. Around 32,000 cubic metres of debris remain to be cleared on the tracks owing to the landslides. Train services were suspended on the route on Tuesday and Wednesday and will now take longer to resume than expected.
A decision on resumption of train services will be taken after reviewing the situation after five to seven days, according to Divisional Railway Manager , South Western Railway, Aparna Garg. The Yadakumari section has been declared a highly vulnerable and critical part of the railway route in this section, she reveals. Since June 11, the stretch from the Yadakumari to Subramanya railway station has recorded 9500 mm of rain, resulting in 42 landslides at various points over the last three days.
“Boulders continue to fall on the tracks. Restoration will take time although we have employed 180 labourers and 10 officers besides 45 supporting staff to clear the debris on the tracks,” she adds. Assistance from Hassan district administration has been sought to rescue 16 labourers stranded on the railway route. Anand Bharati, senior divisional engineer (coordination), Mysuru division, said landslides had displaced the tracks at six points.
