Landslide-hit Toy Train services to resume today

SNS, KURSEONG, 29 AUGUST 21: Incessant rainfall pounding the region for the past few days has triggered landslides at several places in the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. One such landslide at Tindharia near Kurseong in Darjeeling district blocked National Highway-55 near the Old Hospital yesterday The landslide has also covered the railway tracks of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), affecting Toy Train services, which had resumed only on 25 August.

However, the debris was cleared and transportation on the highway resumed, while Toy Train services between Darjeeling and NJP in Siliguri remained suspended for yesterday and today. Railway officials said today that the train services would resume tomorrow, including the Steam Jungle Tea Safari between Siliguri Junction and Rongtong station below Tindharia.

"A portion of the mud had fallen from above on the highway yesterday, affecting transportation. However, the debris on the road was cleared and vehicular traffic restored on the highway yesterday itself," an official said.

DHR director AK Mishra yesterday said that the Toy Train services from NJP to Darjeeling had been suspended for the day, while he also announced that the train would not run on the route today too due to the Tindharia landslide.

Meanwhile, the Jungle Tea Safari will be done in a vista-dome dining coach of the world heritage train where passengers would be offered tea and snacks during the two-hour trip. "It will be an enjoyable ride for people," the Katihar divisional railway manager, Subhendu Kumar Choudhary, had said on 25 August when the full Toy Train services resumed after almost one-and-half years.