Nilgiri Mountain Railway services between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam will remain cancelled from November 5 to November 7 as Southern Railway continues restoration work after landslides near Hillgrove, disrupting travel on the heritage route for a third week.
Both passenger services on the Mettupalayam-Udhagamandalam and Udhagamandalam-Mettupalayam routes have been suspended during the extended period. Railway officials said continuous heavy rain in the Nilgiris district triggered landslides at several locations, leaving rocks, mud and fallen trees across sections of the track.
The latest cancellation follows an earlier disruption on the Coonoor-Mettupalayam section, where landslides damaged portions of the railway infrastructure. Services have remained affected since October 24 because of adverse weather and the repair work required to restore the line.
Track maintenance teams are clearing debris and fallen trees and repairing damaged infrastructure along the route. Southern Railway said the work was being carried out on a war footing to enable the safe resumption of services at the earliest.
The route is a UNESCO-recognised mountain railway and serves passengers travelling between the plains and the Nilgiris. The suspension affects visitors and residents using the railway connection between Mettupalayam, Coonoor and Udhagamandalam, particularly during continuing periods of heavy rain and difficult hill conditions.
Passengers who had planned to use the service during the cancellation period have been advised to make alternative travel arrangements. Railway authorities have asked passengers to follow official railway channels for updates on restoration progress and the resumption of services.
