Vigil to help toy trains run past slides

TT, Siliguri: Authorities of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway have drawn up fresh plans to ensure that that toy train services remain uninterrupted in the hills during the monsoon months.

Every year, movement of this heritage train service that is being recognised by the Unesco, is disrupted during the rainy season due to landslides in some of the stretches located between Sukna -- the last DHR station in plains, around 10 kilometres from here -- and Kurseong.

"Landslides occur during the rainy season along some stretches of the tracks. We have found that there are three such stretches between Sukna and Kurseong. After identifying those stretches, we have planned to keep a roundthe-clock vigil on these areas. There are people who have been assigned with the task to keep the watch and inform us in case the track is blocked anywhere due to landslide. Also, teams of technical persons have been kept ready to rush to such spots with necessary equipments. They will clear the track and carry out repair works if required, with the help of locals so that train services do not get affected," said a source in DHR. The stretches, he said are Sukna-Rongtong, RongtongTindharia and GhayabariPaglajhora near Kurseong, the source said.

The contingency plan that has been drawn up by DHR has been made as in earlier years, incidents of frequent disruptions due to landslides and delay in restoration of train services had led to criticisms at several quarters.

"In 2018, more than one lakh passengers had boarded the toy train. This is a record since inception of the train service that had started 1881. We feel the numbers would go up in the coming years and that is why, there should be no discontinuation in service, particularly during the rainy season. Moreover, representatives of Unesco have time and again insisted on better conservation of DHR, including the tracks," the source added.

Ravinder Kumar Verma, divisional railway manager, Katihar division of Northeast Frontier Railway also spoke in similar lines.

"Landslide is a natural calamity. But on our part, what we can do is to clear the track as soon as possible, carry out repairs if required and ensure that the train runs without any disruption," he said, during a visit at the New Jalpaiguri station on Sunday..