Northwest India Grapples with Heavy Rains: Several Trains Cancelled and Services Disrupted

406 passenger trains have been cancelled between July 7 and July 15 due to waterlogging on tracks caused by heavy rainfall.

Written by Malika Sahni July 13, 2023

Continuous rainfall affected Northwest India, particularly regions in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, resulting in severe downpours. Consequently, numerous mail and express trains, totalling more than 300, along with 406 passenger trains have been cancelled between July 7 and July 15 due to waterlogging on tracks caused by heavy rainfall.

Officials reported that the overall impact of waterlogging has affected over 600 mail/express trains and more than 500 passenger trains. The incessant rainfall lasted for three days starting from Saturday and affected multiple areas, including Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, where “heavy to extremely heavy” rains were recorded.

The excessive rainfall led to the overflow of rivers, creeks, and drains, resulting in significant damage to infrastructure and disruption of essential services in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab. Northern Railways, responsible for this region, has taken several measures, including the cancellation of approximately 300 mail/express trains, the short termination of 100 trains, and the diversion of 191 trains.

Additionally, around 67 trains have been short-originated, according to officials. Due to extensive waterlogging, Northern Railways has also cancelled 406 passenger trains, diverted 28 trains, short-originated 56 trains, and short-terminated 54 trains.