Landslide near Pomendi on Konkan track delays trains. Commuters stranded

Landslide near Pomendi on Konkan track delays trains. Commuters stranded

Mangalore Today / PTI

PANAJI, August 30 : Torrential rains in the Konkan region triggered a landslide in Ratnagiri sector in Maharashtra today, delaying trains and causing inconvenience to scores of commuters.

Public relations manager of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) Baban Ghatge said a landslide near Pomendi in Ratnagiri district has delayed several trains on the route.

 

 

"The landslide occurred at 8.15 am due to heavy rains. A wall collapsed on the tracks," he said, adding, "a team of experts is already at the spot and the debris is being cleared. We expect the traffic to be normalised by 2 pm."

The landslide has left thousands of commuters stranded on the way, he said.

Many preferred to choose the road to ensure they reach on time for the 10-day Ganeshotsav festival starting Thursday.

This is the third time in the current monsoon that landslides have disrupted services on the Konkan Railway network in the Pomendi ghat section.

The official attributed it to heavy rains, loose soil conditions, falling rocks and stones which damaged or blocked the railway tracks.

KRCL has been running special trains to clear the extra rush of travellers from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai to Madgao (Goa) since August 28, ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival on September 1. Considering the rush, the number of coaches on the existing trains have also been added.

 

I) Trains Regulated

            a) No.12618, Nizamuddin – Ernakulam South Mangala Express of 29th August 2011, has been regulated at Panvel from 09.35 hours.

            b) No. 12133, Mumbai CST – Mangalore Junction Express of 29th August 2011, has been regulated at Roha from 09.02 hours.

            c) No.16337, Hapa – Ernakulam South Express of 29th August 2011, has been regulated at Ratnagiri, from 08.20 hours

            d) No.16334, Thiruvananthapuram – Hapa Express of 29th August 2011, has been regulated at Kumta, from 09.15 hours.

            e) No.16346, Thiruvananthapuram – Lokmanya Tilak Express of 29th August 2011, has been regulated at Kudal, from 09.02 hours.

            f) No.12134, Mangalore Junction – Mumbai CST Express of 29th August 2011, has been regulated at Sawantwadi Road, from 09.08 hours.


II) Trains Rescheduled

            No.16345, Lokmanya Tilak – Thiruvananthapuram Netravathi Express, leaving Lokmanya Tilak at 11.40 hours on 30th August 2011, will now leave at 13.30 hours on the same day.

            The rail traffic in this section is expected to be regularised by 15.00 hours on 30th August 2011.