23 trains cancelled in flood-hit Kerala

: As many as 23 trains were cancelled and two services were partially disrupted in Kerala on Saturday due to heavy monsoon rains which gained strength since the last three days.

Most of the services from Palakkad division have been disrupted and a few started their journey from nearby Coimbatore, a senior Railway official told PTI.

"Most of the tracks in central and north Kerala have been damaged by the monsoon rains. At some places, tracks were flooded and at other places mounds of earth have fallen on the tracks. As soon as we clear the debris and the water recedes, we can resume the services," the official said.

The official also said services from Thiruvananthapuram to Thrissur were on and trains are using the Kottayam route.

Train services on the Alappuzha route had been affected since the past two days as trees fell on the tracks and electric lines were snapped.

The official further said a few long-distance trains from Thiruvananthapuram were being rerouted through Nagercoil and Tirunelveli.

"However, it is not possible to reroute all the trains like that. The traffic will increase. Also we will have to bring the rakes which are stranded at various places," the official said.

A release issued by the Railways said Chennai Central Alappuzha Superfast express, ThiruvananthapuramMangalore Maveli Express, ThiruvananthapuramMangalore Malabar Express, ThiruvananthapuramMangalore Express, AlappuzhaKannur Executive Express, Ernakulam JunctionNizamuddin Millennium Superfast express were cancelled.

Due to heavy rain and floods between Palakkad- Ottappalam, Shoranur-Kuttipuram and FerokKallayi sections of Palakkad Division, rail traffic has been affected in Palakkad- Shoranur and Shoranur-Kozhikode sections, the release said.

Railways said water is overflowing above danger level in certain bridges in Ottapalam-Lakkiti upline, Ottapalam-Mannanur down line and Mannanur-Shoranur Down line.

It also said boulders had fallen on the tracks at various places and landslips had been reported along certain tracka.

In some places the overhead electrical mast has fallen on the tacks.

The release also said Ernakulam Express, Ernakulam - Patna Express, Intercity Express,Bengaluru-Kochuveli Express remain cancelled.

The ThiruvananthapuramGorakhpur Raptisagar Express which was supposed to start on August 11 was partially cancelled between Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore.

The train will start from Coimbatore towards Gorakhpur on August 11.

Also, the AlappuzhaDhanbad Express scheduled to leave on August 11 has been partially cancelled between Alappuzha and Coimbatore.

It will start from Coimbatore towards Dhanbad on August 11.

The disruption of rail services had hit thousands of passengers leaving them stranded in various railway stations.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been operating more services after the disruption of train services.

The authorities have opened help desks at all stations to help passengers reach their destinations.

A total of 57people have so far been killed in rain related incidents in Kerala and 1.65 lakh people have taken shelter in relief camps.

A year after Kerala was devastated by the deadliest monsoon that led to the worst deluge in a century, the southern state has been at the receiving end of nature's fury again.