HimVani
Shimla/Solan: Rail traffic on the World Heritage Kalka-Shimla track remained suspended for about seven hours when an engine of a train derailed this morning due to landslide; however, no one was injured in the accident.
Shimla Railway Superintendent GS Rajput told HimVani that train number 251 began its uphill journey form Kalka railway station at 6.30 am. The train stopped in a forest between Koti and Gumma at 7.30 am as its engine hit boulders lying on the track. Railway superintendent, Solan, Sunder Parmar told HimVani that about 250 passengers were on the train.
251-up Mail leaves Kalka for Shimla at 6 am daily linking Hawrah-Kalka Mail which arrives at 5.30 am at Kalka. The derailed train was late by 30 minutes. “The derailed train was on its uphill journey and its speed was slow, which averted a big mishap,” Parmar added.
All trains running on the route between 7.30 am and 1.50 pm had to be cancelled till the route was restored for traffic. All passengers sitting in derailed train were forced to return back to Kalka again as another engine was deployed to bring down the bogeys. Last year four bogeys of another train had derailed killing one persons and injuring three others. Trains on the track remain full to capacity during the summer tourist season.
