Mangaluru Jn – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Express Spl: Train Number 01134 (which was running on the diverted route via Madgaon-Londa-Miraj due to overflow of Vashishti River between Chiplun and Kamathe), suffered a Derailment in between Dudhsagar-Sonaulim section.
1 General coach next to the Engine and the Engine was partially derailed. No passenger casualty has been reported (no injury/death). The passengers of the affected coach have been shifted to other coaches. The train is being pulled back to Kulem.
Due to the continuous heavy rainfall in the Ghat section of Hubballi Division of SWR, Landslides have been reported at two locations: Between Dudhsagar – Sonaulim Stations at about 6.10 AM and Caranzol-Dudhsagar Stations at about 6.20 AM today.
Accident Relief Train (ART) from Castle Rock as well as from Vasco da Gama were immediately despatched to the site, as per the standard protocol to carry out restoration measures.
SWR has opened Helplines for the benefit of passengers. The details are as follows:
SWR had already taken contingency measures before the start of the rainy season, at suitable stations for any exigency in the Ghat section during the Monsoon season.
As part of Monsoon Reserve, JCB, Hitachi, and wagon loaded with boulders were kept ready at Castle Rock, Tinaighat, and Kulem. The same has been pressed into service to the spot of the landslides along with the team of trained technicians to carry out Restoration of Track/Train services at the earliest.
Train no 02780 Hazrat Nizamuddin – Vasco da Gama Express Spl (which was bound to Vasco da Gama was detained in the section between Caranzol – Dudhsagar owing to the landslide, This train is being pulled back to Castle Rock.
There are 345 passengers on board Train no 01134 and 887 passengers on board Train no 02780. All are reported to be safe. Arrangements for the transshipment of passengers to buses will be made at a suitable location.
The team of Senior Officials of Hubballi Division including Divisional Railway Manager Shri Aravind Malkhede and Senior Officers from Headquarters of SWR, have rushed to the site and are taking immediate measures to carry out the restoration. Precautionary measures to prevent further landslips at the site are also being taken.
For passengers of Train no 02780 the buses arrangement will be made at Londa towards destinations such as Vasco da Gama, Belagavi, Hubballi by road. For the passengers of 01134 alternate transportation arrangements will be made from Madgaon/Mangaluru Jn based on feedback from passengers.
‘Arrangements for tea, snacks, drinking water are made at Castle Rock Station and Kulem Station for the passengers of Train no 02780 and Train no 01134, respectively’ stated SWR in a press release.
Li-ION