Landslide stops toy train service

HT, 31 May 2016, DARJEELING: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway service from Darjeeling to New Jalpaiguri was truncated to Kurseong owing to landslides at Paglajhora on the Kurseong to Siliguri section on Tuesday. Work is progressing on a war footing to remove the debris from the tracks.
“Heavy rains resulted in the landslide at Paglajhora near Kurseong at around 2 pm on Tuesday. Debris, including huge boulders, has blocked the tracks. We have rushed excavators to the spot. Work is being done on a war footing. We hope to open the tracks and resume services by Wednesday,” said Narendra Mohan, area officer, DHR.
DHR officials visited Pa glajhora which is a landslide-prone area, overseeing clearing operations. Incidentally, the diesel locomotive from Darjeeling to NJP runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The service from NJP to Darjeeling is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. DHR rides are very popular among tourists and a large number foreign tourists visit Darjeeling just to experience the World Heritage DHR. At present, Darjeeling is witnessing a tourist onrush.
In another incident, the diesel locomotive service from Kurseong to Darjeeling was derailed at Khahareykhola, around 4 km from Kurseong town. The train had departed from Kurseong at around 7.05 am as per schedule with a diesel engine and three coaches. However, at Khahareykhola the last coach slipped out of the tracks.
“No one was injured. We later accommodated the passengers of the derailed coach in the two other coaches. Though late, all passengers reached Darjeeling safely. We are conducting an inquiry to find out the reason for the derailment,” said the area officer.