The UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla railway track has faced another major disruption. A bridge between Gumman and Taksal railway stations was washed away in heavy rain, leaving the track hanging in the air. The incident happened in the late hours last night.
Kalka-Shimla train services cancelled after bridge damage
Railway officials cancelled all trains on the Kalka-Shimla track today following the damage. Restoration work began today, and officials say it is slated to take another two to three days to complete.
The bridge was inundated with water due to the heavy rain. The culvert was also adversely damaged, which made the situation worse. The track was left suspended in the air, making it unsafe for any train movement.
Heavy rain causes widespread damage to road and rail network
Heavy rain lashed Parwanoo and its surrounding areas on Saturday, causing immense damage to both the road and railway network. The downpour was severe enough to disrupt multiple routes in the region.
Earlier on Saturday, the track between Koti and Taksal was swamped by landslides. This prompted railway officials to cancel services even before the bridge collapse. The repeated disruptions highlight how vulnerable the heritage line is to extreme weather.
"The bridge was inundated with water due to heavy rain, leaving the track hanging in the air as even the culvert was adversely damaged." — Railway officials
Our Take: Heritage line needs stronger protection
To put it plainly, this is not the first time the Kalka-Shimla railway has faced weather-related damage, and it likely will not be the last. The track is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which means it holds global value. But heritage status alone does not protect it from nature's fury.
What stands out here is the speed of the damage. A single night of heavy rain washed away a bridge and left a track hanging in the air. That is a serious warning. If the region continues to see intense rainfall, the railway needs more than temporary repairs — it needs a long-term plan to reinforce vulnerable sections like the one between Gumman and Taksal.
For passengers, the immediate impact is clear: no trains on the Kalka-Shimla route for at least two to three days. For the authorities, the bigger question is how to make this historic line resilient enough to handle the next heavy downpour. Restoration is underway, but prevention must follow.