UNESCO Heritage Kalka-Shimla Railway faces fresh damage amid heavy rainfall
Old Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, Sept 5,
The UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla Railway, one of India’s most iconic mountain railways, has once again suffered extensive damage after incessant rainfall triggered cracks, collapses, and landslides near Pattamod in Himachal Pradesh.
Officials confirmed that multiple cracks have developed around the fragile track alignment near Pattamod, where ongoing construction of the Kalka-Shimla National Highway-5 has heightened the vulnerability of the heritage route. Local sources further reported that water from culverts has been diverted toward the railway line, forcing debris, boulders, and uprooted trees onto the tracks. The situation has worsened between Taksal and Taradevi, where landslide debris has completely blocked train movement.
Also read:Kalka-Shimla Heritage Railway services suspended after landslides, restoration underway
Train services on the Kalka-Shimla line, already suspended by the Railway Board until September 5, are now expected to remain shut for a longer period, given the scale of damage. Operations had only recently resumed partially up to Taradevi after months of painstaking restoration work on a bridge washed away last year.
The 96-km Kalka-Shimla Railway, commissioned in 1908 during the British era, is globally renowned for its 103 tunnels, dramatic viaducts, and engineering marvels that traverse steep gradients and picturesque Himalayan valleys. It was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008, marking its centenary.
However, in recent years, extreme weather events have repeatedly threatened the survival of this historic rail corridor. In August 2023, a devastating cloudburst near Summer Hill swept away a railway bridge, killed 25 people, and brought services to a prolonged halt. Now, fresh spells of torrential rainfall in Solan district on September 1 have once again left the heritage line unsafe.
Experts have warned that unless urgent preventive steps are taken—such as redirecting water flows away from the alignment and assessing the long-term impact of nearby highway construction—the Kalka-Shimla Railway could continue to face recurrent shutdowns.
For the local population and tourists alike, the repeated disruptions are not just an inconvenience but also a reminder of the mounting risks that climate change and unregulated development pose to fragile heritage infrastructure in the Himalayas.
The Kalka-Shimla Railway has long been more than just a transport link—it is a living heritage, a global attraction, and an engineering legacy. But unless safeguarded with stronger resilience measures, the “toy train to Shimla” may increasingly remain a heritage at risk.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.