S.O.S! 16 Stranded Yedakumari Railway Station Staff to be Airlifted to Safety
Mangaluru: When you take the Mangaluru to Bengaluru train, through the scenic Western Ghats, you will never miss Yedakumari Railway Station, and this area is also a Trekking spot for many trekkers. Yedakumari is in Sakleshpur Taluk in the midst of western ghats, which has a railway station here. The place lies en route Mangaluru to Bengaluru railway line. The train running in between these two cities generally halt at Yedakumari for technical reasons. Yedakumari railway station has s become resting place for trekkers who are trekking the western ghats following the railway tracks. But now this Railway station has made headline news, since the 16 staff who work at Yedamumari Railway Station are stuck with no where to move, due to the landslide debris on the rail tracks, and also train service being stopped couple of days ago.
Sources reveal that Yedakumari station is in dangerous condition due to heavy rains and landslides. The area has recorded 9,516 mm rainfall almost three times higher than the previous year. The staffs have no route to leave. Landslides have occurred up to 50 to 100 metres on either side of the station with heavy boulders lying in front of the station. Hence, A K Sinha, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, (Mysuru division), SWR requested Hassan deputy commissioner Rohini Sinduri for the airlift operation. Therefore the district administration has decided to airlift all these 16 railway staff from this Railway station at the earliest. The Fire and Emergency Services personnel will take up the rescue operation as helicopters are being brought from Bengaluru for the operation.
In a desperate SOS message sent to the Railway Department higher officials, the stranded railway staff have quoted that “Due to the heavy rain and landslides we are unable to go to any part of the railway track. If the rains continue, even the building of railway station, in which we have taken shelter, may collapse. So please save us.”. In response, the railway authorities had written a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Hassan district requesting him to immediately airlift 16 of its employees who are trapped in Yedakumari Railway station due to a landslide on the track and in station premises, and their request was granted by the Hassan DC.
It is learnt that several trees and boulders have collapsed on the track. Around 32,156 cubic meter of soil has deposited on the track. As many as 42 landslides, including 10 episodes have been reported in last three days, and the department is monitoring the situation and 10 earth movers, 180 labourers, 45 supporting staff and 10 officials are involved in clearing the track, which may need few days to clear the tracks. An SWR team is working hard to restore 55 kilometre railway line between Sakleshpur railway station in Hassan district and Subramanya in Dakshina Kannada district. Heavy rains and landslide have severely affected the line.
It is noted that there are several tunnels and limited path with huge earth slips, there are severe constraints. At full pace also, the work is likely to take a minimum one week’s time. In the interest of the safety of passengers, the train services have been suspended till August 25 and the situation will be reviewed and reassessed thereafter and the status known depending on the weather condition and further incidents of landslips.