Train Service To Resume Shortly On Monsoon-Damaged Kangra Valley Heritage Line

With the aim of restoring train services on the Kangra Valley narrow gauge heritage line without any further delay, Indian Railways has expedited repair works of the bridge damaged during the monsoon.

Kangra Valley Railway provides narrow gauge connectivity from Pathankot-Nurpur-Kangra-Baijnath Paprola-Joginer Nagar.

In the current monsoon season, there have been heavy rains in Kangra Valley, which resulted in landslides, boulder falling and flash floods due to which the rail line was badly damaged.

As a precautionary measure and considering the history of flash floods, operation of trains on this line was suspended from 14 July 2022. There is a bridge on the river Chakki between Dalhousie Road and Nurpur, numbered as Bridge 32.

On 31 July, flash flood in the Chakki river resulted in damage to protection works and scouring near Pier No 3. Pier No 3 of the bridge developed a crack above the well cap. This was a result of the river bed of Chakki degrading and the bed level of the river going down rapidly year after year.

Northern Railway General Manager Asutosh Gangal held a meeting with the Chief Secretary of Punjab on 16 August 2022 in this connection.

A meeting has also been requested between the GM and the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh to facilitate the repair works on the rail section.

Subsequently, on 20 August 2022, a cloud burst was experienced in the area leading to abnormally heavy water discharge with high velocity in the river Chakki. Protection works done by the railways to protect the piers of the bridge suffered extensive damage as the river bed downstream was very low.

Over a period from morning to evening, five piers of the bridge were washed away and some others rendered unsafe. In all, seven piers and six spans of the bridge are washed away or unsafe and needing repair/replacement.

According to the railways, it works with the prime focus of providing safe, secure and timely service to its users. Repairs/rebuilding of the rail track and the damaged portion of bridge 32 has been planned and will be completed in the shortest possible time.

In the meantime, resumption of train services is being planned in the unaffected portion of the railway track. Services will be re-introduced between Pathankot-Dalhousie Road and Nurpur Road-Joginder Nagar.

In consultation with the state authorities, road bridging between Nurpur Road to Dalhousie Road is being planned for a few services. The schedule for the phase-wise and section-wise running of train services will be intimated in due course.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reviewed the action plan for resumption of train services and repairs/reconstruction of bridge 32 with the general manager and other officers concerned.

The minister has directed resumption of services at the earliest and expeditious repairs/restoration work of the bridge.