RailEnquiry

Haridwar : Heavy rains have damaged the railway track at Motichur with debris falling near Kali Mata Temple from the Mata Mansa Devi mountain in the Shivalik hilly terrain. In view of important Dehradun-bound trains running on this track, the Railway Department pitched in a dozen-odd workers to clear the debris from the railway track.Though yesterday, too, debris had fallen on to the track, the timings of trains were not affected as clearing operations were undertaken on a war-footing.While the landslide occurring near the residential areas was cleared by the Public Works Department, near the railway track it was done by Railway Department workmen to ensure smooth movement of trains.Notably, during major floods in September 2010, a tunnel was blocked several times due to massive landslides. On September 19, 20 and 21, train movement beyond this tunnel was hampered towards the Motichur-Dehradun side. Even now the problem persists during monsoon season.Station in-charge Superintendent Gajendra Rawat said the retaining wall seemed to be the best permanent solution to the problem of the tunnel getting blocked due to heavy rains.Within the city the rain water collected at various places, intersections and colonies affecting normal life. Flooding was reported from many areas, including Kankhal, Brahmapuri, Chandra Charya Chowk, Bhagat Singh Chowk, Khanna Nagar, Doodha Dhari Chowk, Pawan Dham, Moti Bazar, Awas Vikas, Bhoopatawala and Jwalapur. Many vehicles were stranded on flooded roads. Hundreds of employees in the SIDCUL industrial area could not turn up for work due to heavy water accumulation that affected movement of public transport services.