Title - Landslides wreak havoc Train service in Kangra valley remains affected for second day

Palampur:
Train services in the Kangra valley, on the Pathankot-Joginder Nagar 120-km rail track, remained suspended for the second day today following heavy landslides at different points between Guler and Kangra. Several retaining walls on the track have also developed cracks.Official sources today said heavy rain and flash floods in the past two days had caused extensive damage to the rail track at many points between Ranital, Koparlahar and Kangra, forcing railway authorities to cancel many trains on this route.The Railways have managed to run four trains between Pathankot and Guler section, but beyond Guler, the rail track is yet to be repaired.Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers, particularly daily commuters, are the worst hit as no train is plying regularly on this route for the past one month. Residents of Palampur, Baijnath, Paprola, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan and Joginder Nagar have been facing inconvenience in the absence of train services.The British had laid down the Kangra valley narrow gauge railway line in 1932, linking all important and religious towns of Kangra and Mandi districts.Unfortunately, the Indian Railways have not added even a single brick to this track in the past 79 years. With a manifold increase in the population and increase in the tourist traffic to the Kangra valley in the past 25 years, the Railways have failed to come up to the expectations of local people.

The same century-old and outdated engines and coaches are still plying on this track.