In view of bad weather conditions and the possibility of landslides on the Kalka-Shimla heritage railway line, the Railways has once again taken precautionary measures and cancelled the 8 am toy train service from Kalka to Shimla till July 29.
The decision has surprised passengers as well as residents, as even earlier trains were cancelled citing weather forecasts, but no disruption was reported on the track.
Earlier on Monday, the Railways had cancelled the Him Darshan and Himalayan Queen toy trains running from Kalka for a day due to a bad weather warning.
However, no landslides or debris falls were reported on the heritage track that day, and other toy train services continued to operate normally. The Railways’ prediction drew criticism from the public.
Citing the possibility of bad weather and debris on the tracks, the Railways has postponed the 8 am toy train service. Officials said passenger safety remains the top priority and the decision was taken to avoid any potential danger during the monsoon season.
Torrential rains continue to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh, leaving nearly 100 roads closed due to landslides and debris flows. Since the start of the monsoon season, 66 people have died in rain-related incidents.
The Meteorological Department and the State Disaster Management Authority have issued advisories, urging residents and tourists to avoid rivers, streams, ravines, and landslide-prone areas, and to travel only when necessary.