In the early hours of Friday, May 30, 2025, train services from Mangaluru Central towards Kerala were severely disrupted after a large tree fell on the tracks between Mangaluru Central and Netravathi Cabin near Marnamikatte.
The incident, attributed to heavy rainfall and strong winds, damaged the Railway Overhead Equipment (OHE) and brought down several electricity poles, halting train operations for over six hours. Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division promptly deployed railway personnel to remove the fallen tree and restore the OHE. Two OHE repair vans were dispatched to expedite the restoration process. By approximately 10:30 a.m., the affected line was cleared, and train operations towards Kerala resumed, albeit with significant delays due to the backlog.
To mitigate the disruption, several Kerala-bound trains were diverted via Mangaluru Junction. These included the Mangaluru Central-Kanniyakumari Parasuram Express, the Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express, and the Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Ernad Express. Additionally, the KSR Bengaluru-Kannur overnight express and the SMVT Bengaluru-Murdeshwar overnight express bypassed Mangaluru Central, proceeding directly towards their destinations from Mangaluru Junction. The Mangaluru Central-Mangaluru Junction line, being a single line, remained unaffected by the tree fall, allowing for the rerouting of certain services. However, the incident caused a ripple effect, leading to delays in several trains from Kerala to Mangaluru. This was compounded by similar incidents of tree falls in the Thiruvananthapuram Division, where heavy rains and strong winds led to multiple disruptions across the railway network.
Passengers are advised to check the National Train Enquiry System App or portal for real-time updates on train timings and schedules. The railway authorities have assured that efforts are ongoing to restore normalcy and minimize further delays. This incident underscores the vulnerability of railway infrastructure to extreme weather events and highlights the need for proactive measures to enhance resilience. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, such disruptions may become more frequent, necessitating comprehensive strategies to safeguard transportation networks.
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