Boulders fall on track, disrupts NMR services

COIMBATORE: Tourists were disappointed as their joy ride by Nilgiris Mountain Railway train from Mettupalayam ended abruptly on Monday after the train halted midway due to obstructions caused by mud slips near Kallar in the Nilgiris following heavy overnight rains.

The train chugged out of the Mettupalayam station at the scheduled time of 7.10 am with 140 tourists and was expected to reach Udhagamandalam at 12 noon.

“Upon reaching Kallar railway station, it was known that the track ahead had been obstructed and could not be operated. A portion of the track between Kallar and Hillgrove has been blocked by mud and boulders that have rolled down,” said a statement.

As the obstruction was heavy and likely to take considerable time to clear, the train was taken back to Mettupalayam and the service was cancelled. All the passengers were given a full refund of their tickets.

The tourists however expressed disappointment over cancellation of the services and also over not making alternative public transport arrangements for them to reach their destinations, as in the past.

Meanwhile, a team of workers under the supervision of engineers commenced restoration of the railway track by removing the mud and boulders. The large sized boulders were blasted away.

Meanwhile, the NMR services between Coonoor – Udhagamandalam were operated as usual.