Kalka-Shimla toy train tracks left hanging in air as soil beneath bridge washes away, service suspended

Discontinuous rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has halted operations on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shimla-Kalka narrow gauge railway line, with authorities halting services after a section of the tracks was destabilized by soil erosion, officials announced on Sunday. The collapse occurred near Bridge No. 57 between Koti and Gumman stations in Solan district around 9 pm on Saturday.

Soil supporting 10 to 15 meters of the tracks was washed away, according to an official. Hardeep Singh of Kalka alerted railway personnel to the damage. A team from Kalka railway station and the Ambala division investigated the site on Sunday. Authorities subsequently canceled 10 trains, with six trains between Kalka and Shimla suspended until September 13, while four other trains between the same stations will be halted until September 1.

Services are expected to resume only after the affected stretch is stabilized. The initial suspension, announced for August 30 to September 1, may be extended based on the progress of restoration work. The Kalka-Shimla heritage line, spanning 96 kilometers, has faced multiple disruptions due to landslides and erosion during this monsoon.

The line, built across challenging terrain, comprises 102 tunnels, 800 bridges, and 919 curves, attracting a significant number of tourists. The disruption coincided with ongoing heavy rain, which has left 64 roads closed for traffic in the state as of Sunday evening.