High-level inspection of Kalka-Shimla rail section

NEW DELHI: Senior officials of Northern Railway led by General Manger AK Puthia today carried out a detailed inspection of Kalka-Shimla toy train line to prevent any possible mishap in the section.
Two British nationals were killed and 10 others injured when three coaches of the toy train on the Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge section derailed near Parwanoo between the Kalka and Taksal stations on September 12.

The derailment assumed importance as it caused death of two foreign tourists and also raised concern about the safety of the train operation on the narrow gauge section.

However, a senior Northern Railway official said "the derailment occurred at around 12.55 pm on September 12 and the train service resumed next day. The service was affected for a day only and now it is absolutely normal."

Alarmed by the spate of accidents, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu took an urgent safety review meeting on September 14 and asked all zonal chiefs to ensure zero-level accident.

Railways have suspended three employees including two drivers after the derailment while ordering an inquiry.

During the day long inspection, Puthia inspected curve no 14 between Kalka and Taksal, tunnel no 13 and its side drain, catch water drain, curve no 343, point and crossing at Barog station.

The Kalka Shimla narrow gauge railway section has been inscribed as world heritage site since 2008 by UNESCO.

An engineering feat of highest skills comprising 102 tunnels and 869 bridges, the 96.60 km long section was opened for traffic on November 9 1903.