Persistent heavy rainfall and gusty winds across Kerala have led to significant disruptions in train services, particularly in the Palakkad Division.
Over the past three days, approximately 19 trains traversing routes from Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram and beyond have experienced delays due to trees falling on or near railway tracks. While no train services were cancelled, the delays have caused considerable inconvenience to passengers. One notable incident involved train number 20632, the Thiruvananthapuram Central – Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express (via Alappuzha), which was rescheduled to depart at 17:10 hours instead of its original time of 16:05 hours, resulting in a delay of 1 hour and 5 minutes.
Railway officials have been working tirelessly to clear debris and restore normalcy. A spokesperson for the Palakkad Division stated that workers have been dedicated to ensuring minimal disruption to train operations. Despite these efforts, trains continued to run late due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions. The Thiruvananthapuram Division faced similar challenges, with trees falling on tracks and overhead electric cables. Officials had previously identified numerous trees as potential hazards and issued notifications to property owners to mitigate risks. However, many of these warnings went unheeded, leading to the current disruptions.
The India Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for Kozhikode, Kannur, and Wayanad districts, forecasting continued heavy rainfall and strong winds. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel. In light of these events, railway authorities are urging property owners to cooperate in identifying and removing hazardous trees near railway tracks to prevent further disruptions and ensure passenger safety.
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