Railway staff from Yedakumari to be airlifted

• Restoration of railway tracks between Hassan and Dakshina Kannada districts

Sakleshpur: The district administration has decided to airlift 16 railway staff from Yedakumari Railway station near Sakleshpur. The Fire and Emergency Services personnel will take up the rescue operation as helicopters are being brought from Bengaluru for the operation.

Yedakumari station is in dangerous condition due to heavy rains and landslides. Yedakumeri railway station near Sakleshpur railway station 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.

Restoration of railway tracks between Hassan and Dakshina Kannada districts

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 and the restoration work may require at least a week’s time.

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 on Thursday have been reported in last three days, informed Aparna Garg, Divisional Railway Manager (Mysuru division).

“The department is monitoring the situation and 10 earth movers, 180 labourers, 45 supporting staff and 10 officials are involved in clearing the track. It may need seven days to clear the tracks,” she added.