Thiruvananthapuram: The rail traffic in Kerala has been restored to a large extent days after it was thrown out of gear due to heavy rain and landslides. Bus services are quite normal except on routes prone to flooding every monsoon such as the Alappuzha-Changanassery road and Kottayam-Kumarakom section. However, delays and abrupt traffic blocks could be expected along the way owing to flooded sections, subsidence or tree falls.
The obstacles along the Kozhikode-Shoranur rail route were removed and the traffic was restored by Monday afternoon. Train services have been restored along the Chenkotta-Punalur rail route too.
Kozhikode-Nagercoil special passenger first conducted service along the Kozhikode-Shoranur route on Monday. Kozhikode-Coimbatore and Mangaluru-Coimbatore also conducted special services. One special service was carried out on the Kozhikode-Mangaluru route and two special services on the Shoranur-Mangaluru route. All trains conducted services to Ernakulam, apart from those cancelled earlier. A special train would travel to Chennai from 7:30pm on August 15.
Eighteen trains via Palakkad had been fully cancelled, while 11 trains have been partially cancelled. The services would be restored by Wednesday.
Monday's Kochuveli-Chandigarh Express (12217) travelled via Wadi, Pune and Panvel, while Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express (12617) travelled through Palakkad, Erode, and Nagpur.
Train services from Mangaluru in Karnataka have also been restored.
Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Parashuram Express and the Chennai-Egmore Express have been cancelled. Chennai Mail partially conducted services.
Though train services from Bengaluru to south Kerala have been resorted, services to Kannur were cancelled on Monday too. Yesvantpur-Kannur Express (16527-28), Bengaluru-Hassan-Kannur (16517-18), and Mangaluru-Palakkad-Yesvantpur (16566) have been cancelled. After a huge landslide struck Hassan in Karnataka, the rail traffic on this route has been suspended till August 23. Only after that, services to Kannur via Mangaluru would be restored.
Express trains that have been cancelled
Monday: Okha-Ernakulam (16337), Barauni-Ernakulam Rapti Sagar Express (12521), Indore-Thiruvananthapuram Ahilyanagari (22645), Kochuveli-Hyderabad Special (07116), Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram Super Fast (22564), Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express (12618), Dehradun-Kochuveli (22660), Dhanbad-Alappuzha (13351), Kannur-Ernakulam Intercity (16306), Shalimar-Thiruvananthapuram (22642)
Tuesday: Ernakulam-Nizamuddin (12283), Salem-Chennai Central Super Fast (22154). Wednesday's Chandigarh-Kochuveli Kerala Sabarkranthi (12218). Tata-Alappuzha (18189). On August 15, Tirunelveli-Jamnagar, Tirunelveli-Gandhidham Humsafar, and Amritsar -Kochuveli (12483).
Partially cancelled trains:
Monday: Kozhikode-Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi (12075) began its journey from Shoranur.
Tuesday: Nagercoil-Gandhidham (16336) will start from Mangaluru.
Bus services
• Bus services from Bengaluru to Malabar via Mysuru have been restarted. About 30 Kerala and Karnataka RTC buses conducted services to Kozhikode and Kannur regions. None of the services to south Kerala has been affected.
• Tourists have been barred from heading along the Gavi route until curbs are lifted
• Alappuzha-Changanassery Road continues to be inundated. KSRTC buses from Alappuzha depot are conducting services only till Mambazhakari on this route. Small vehicles are also not able to ply. The traffic is unlikely to be restored on Tuesday.
• Traffic along the Thrissur-Kecheri-Pavaratty road, and Kecheri to Perumbilavil bypass road has been suspended. Puthukad-Oorakam Road has been shut. Traffic along Chittatukara-Tamarapilli Road and Thrissur-Pavaratty Road have been partially restored.
• Regulations have been places for touristic activities along Athirappilly-Malakkapara road, Puthukkad-Chimminy Road. Traffic along Kechery-Kunamkulam road has been restored.
• Buses and small vehicles are not plying along Kottayam-Kumarakom route. The KSRTC is conducting service to Cherthala via Kallara.
Accessible roads
• Traffic has been restored along the Kozhikode-Bengaluru National Highway between Thamarassery and Kunnamangalam. Obstacles along the Kuttiady Pass have been removed and vehicles are now plying on the route.
• Except Nadukani Churam, traffic has been restored along four passes to Wayanad
• There are no blocks on the main roads in Idukki. Small vehicles are being allowed to pass through Periyavarai Bridge on the Munnar-Marayur road.
• Obstacles on Kochi-Dhanushkodi road have been removed
• Motorists can travel to Attappadi as the ghat road has been opened
• Bus service has been started to Kotiyoor in Wayanad through Boys' Town Road. However, Makkoottam Road to Coorg remains inaccessible.
