Boulder on track, trains detained

Boulder on track, trains detained

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 04, 2018: A boulder fell on the railway track between Yedakumari and Kadagaravalli stations on the Subrahmanya Road-Sakleshpur section around 2.20pm on July 3, Tuesday, resulted in the cancellation of the Karwar-Yesvantpur tri-weekly train. The boulder was spotted by gangmen patrolling the area, who reported it to the Yedakumari station master. Railway officials rushed to the spot and found that around 500 cubic metres of soil had fallen on the track as well.

 

The boulder had damaged rails and around 20 sleepers, E Vijaya, public relations officer of South Western Railway told media  “ Emergency  staff and machinery was on the job for restoration, and to ensure continuity and normalcy in trains services,” she said. Passengers on board train 16516 were brought to Puttur and sent to their respective destinations – Mysuru and Bengaluru, using 10 KSRTC buses requisitioned from its Puttur depot.

“In the interim, the authorities also provided 400 food packets to the stranded passengers and 300 bottles of water,” she said. Delay in the buses requisitioned by the SWR authorities in reaching Puttur station, caused some unrest among passengers. While eight of the ten buses went to Bengaluru via Mysuru, the rest made their way to the state capital via Hassan. Those who chose to cancel their trip were brought back to Mangaluru in the same train.