Traffic on the Konkan Railway route resumed on Wednesday (July 10) evening following an 18-hour disruption caused by waterlogging at Pernem tunnel near Goa. The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) announced the clearance for train traffic at 8.35 pm through a post on X, previously known as Twitter.
The disruption began at 2.35 pm on Tuesday, when water ingress was observed in the Pernem tunnel on the Madure-Pernem section amidst heavy rainfall.
Although initial clearance was achieved by 10.13 pm on Tuesday night, increased seepage starting at 2.59 am on Wednesday necessitated another suspension of traffic, explained KRCL’s Deputy General Manager Baban Ghatge.
Several trains cancelled, diverted
During this period, several trains were either cancelled or diverted. According to KRCL’s bulletin at 9 am, the cancelled trains included Mandovi Express (10104), Margao to Sawantwadi (50108), Margao to Mumbai Tejas Express (22120), Margao to Mumbai Janashatabdi Express (12052), and Sawantwadi-Diva Express (10106).
Trains that were diverted included Tirunelveli-Jamnagar Express (19577), Nagarcoil-Gandhidham Express (16336), Ernakulum-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (12283), and Thiruvananthapuram Central Lokmanya Tilak Express (16346).
Hundreds stranded at various railway stations in Goa
The disruption left hundreds of passengers stranded at various railway stations across Goa, such as Margao, Canacona, Karmali, Thivim, and Pernem.
Margao station in South Goa witnessed chaotic scenes as the abrupt cancellations affected travelers, including a group of 200 people from Gujarat, including 60 senior citizens, who were stranded when the Goa Samparkranti Express was cancelled just two hours before departure.
“There is a group of 200 people with us, of which at least 60 are senior citizens. We were told two hours in advance that the train was cancelled. What should we do now?” questioned Abdul Walekar, a member of the group on tour to Goa.