18 hours ago
Landslide disrupts rail ops on line linking Bastar to Odisha
Raipur: Heavy monsoon rains triggered a massive landslide on the Kirandul-Kottavalasa railway line in Odisha on July 1, disrupting rail services and affecting hundreds of passengers across Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states.
Over 300 railway workers have been working around the clock for the past three days to clear the debris, but the track remains partially blocked. The landslide occurred between Malliguda and Jarti stations on the Koraput-Kirandul section, a vital link connecting Bastar to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Due to the incident, six trains have been affected so far, with two fully cancelled and four others partially terminated.
Landslide Cuts Through Track
According to officials, continuous rainfall caused mud and large rocks to collapse onto the railway track. While 60–70% of the debris has been cleared as of Friday morning, full restoration may take another 12 to 24 hours, depending on weather conditions and ground stability.
The trains that remain cancelled include Rourkela–Jagdalpur Intercity Express and Jagdalpur–Bhubaneswar Hirakud Express while Visakhapatnam–Kirandul and Kirandul–Visakhapatnam trains will operate only up to Araku, Kirandul–Visakhapatnam and Visakhapatnam–Kirandul Night Express trains will run only till Koraput, Howrah–Jagdalpur Samaleshwari Express will operate till Koraput; cancelled onward Jagdalpur–Puri and Puri–Jagdalpur Rath Yatra Special (July 4–6) will also terminate at Koraput.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
With train services suspended on this route, passengers are forced to rely on road transport to reach destinations in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. However, local travellers report being overcharged by private vehicle operators, leading to frustration and hardship.
No Clear Timeline for Restoration
Despite the progress, officials have not issued a definitive timeline for when the track will be fully operational. "The rain hasn't let up for the past four days. We're doing everything possible, but the terrain is sensitive, and safety is our top priority," said a railway engineer at the site.
This isn't the first time a landslide has disrupted this critical railway corridor. Frequent rain-induced slides during monsoon season continue to pose a major challenge to safe and reliable rail operations in the region.
