Landslide on NMR track; service cancelled for the day

UDHAGAMANDALAM: Services of the heritage Nilgiri Mountain Rail were cancelled midway through its journey today after large boulders and loose soil fell on the track between Kallar and Hillgrove stations, following heavy rains lashing the area for the last couple of days.

The train, which departed from Mettupalayam at 7.10 AM today was halted in between Kallar and Hillgrove, the starting point of ghat section, following information of landslide on the track, railway sources said.

As the onward journey to Coonoor was not possible,the train returned to Mettupalayam, much to the disappointment of about 160 passengers.

Yesterday, about 200 passengers were stranded for nearly two hours after a huge tree uprooted in heavy rains fell on the track between Kallar and Aderley stations today.

The more than a century-old Nilgiris Mountain Railway train was declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

It is a star attraction among tourists as it climbs the mountain offering a visual treat of picturesque valleys and reaches Udhagamandalam in about four hours.