Landslides, a big threat to train travel in Koraput

Time of India

03-07-2025

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Koraput: Stretching 173 km across tribal heartlands and dense forested ridges, the Koraput-Rayagada railway line is one of India's most picturesque routes. But monsoon is a nightmare on this route.
"The soil here becomes loose and unpredictable. Landslides are not just possible, they are expected," remarked a senior official at Koraput railway station.
This fear became a reality on Wednesday. Continuous downpour triggered a landslide between Malliguda and Jarati stations, halting train operations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Several trains were either cancelled or short-terminated as safety became the top priority.
Restoration efforts which were immediately started on Wednesday resumed early Thursday under the close watch of Amitabh Singhal, divisional railway manager (DRM), Rayagada. Over 300 personnel and 13 heavy-duty excavators were pressed into service to clear massive mounds of mud, boulders, and debris. "By 11 am on Thursday, we had cleared about 50% of the debris. If the weather holds, we should be able to resume services soon," said another official on site.
While safety reinforcements like steel nets and sandbag barricades have been installed over the years, officials concede that the terrains unpredictability defies even the best of preparations. "Crores have been spent in past few years for slope protection. But this route is alive as it shifts, breathes, and tests us every single season," the official said.
For frequent travellers like Ajit Patra from Koraput, the experience is a mix of awe and anxiety.
"I travel on this route often, especially on the Hirakhand Express. During monsoon, every tunnel we pass and every bend we take feels like a silent prayer. It's breathtaking but you never stop hoping for a safe passage," he said.
Koraput: Stretching 173 km across tribal heartlands and dense forested ridges, the Koraput-Rayagada railway line is one of India's most picturesque routes. But monsoon is a nightmare on this route.
"The soil here becomes loose and unpredictable. Landslides are not just possible, they are expected," remarked a senior official at Koraput railway station.
This fear became a reality on Wednesday. Continuous downpour triggered a landslide between Malliguda and Jarati stations, halting train operations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Several trains were either cancelled or short-terminated as safety became the top priority.
Restoration efforts which were immediately started on Wednesday resumed early Thursday under the close watch of Amitabh Singhal, divisional railway manager (DRM), Rayagada. Over 300 personnel and 13 heavy-duty excavators were pressed into service to clear massive mounds of mud, boulders, and debris. "By 11 am on Thursday, we had cleared about 50% of the debris. If the weather holds, we should be able to resume services soon," said another official on site.
While safety reinforcements like steel nets and sandbag barricades have been installed over the years, officials concede that the terrains unpredictability defies even the best of preparations. "Crores have been spent in past few years for slope protection. But this route is alive as it shifts, breathes, and tests us every single season," the official said.
For frequent travellers like Ajit Patra from Koraput, the experience is a mix of awe and anxiety. "I travel on this route often, especially on the Hirakhand Express. During monsoon, every tunnel we pass and every bend we take feels like a silent prayer. It's breathtaking but you never stop hoping for a safe passage," he said.