Landslide disrupts toy train services in Darjeeling

Gayabari (West Bengal), Aug 7 (ANI): Landslide in West Bengal's Darjeeling district caused the roads to cave in, which in turn severely damaged the narrow gauge track on which the famous Toy train runs.assive landslide occurred due to heavy downpour on Thursday.

The landslide has upset all road links from Siliguri to various other places in Darjeeling district such as the hill resort of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Sukna.

The business of locals in Gayabari village suffered as the suspension of the toy train services has decreased the influx of tourists in the region and the breaches in the road on National Highway 55 has closed all routes of communication for them.

"We are facing a lot of hardships with the non-plying of vehicles on road. Since the past two months the train services have been suspended. Initially our business was running well but now hardly any customers come here, and neither do we see tourists," said Hare Ram Thakur, a local shopkeeper.

"The breaches in the road have resulted in a lot of inconveniences. The rail tracks have been broken since the last two months but we don't know when they will finally get repaired," he added.

This time the rail authorities are waiting for the road authorities to repair their side of the damages first before the rail line can be laid again.

"Breaches have occurred on the roads because of which the rail track also plummeted. Till the time the road is repaired, the railway lines cannot be laid. The Director of Darjeeling Hill Railways had a talk with the collector and the commissioner of Darjeeling on this matter and he has informed that the National Highways Authority of India will work on this and will submit a roject on this matter by early September and we will work towards this as soon as possible," said Keshav Chandra, General Manager, North East Frontier Railway. (ANI)