Landslide Disrupts Train Services in Haridwar

Rapid Summary

• A landslip occurred on the Mansa Devi hills near Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar, obstructing the Haridwar-Dehradun-Rishikesh railway route on September 8, 2025.
• Boulders from the hill fell on railway tracks near bhimgoda and Kali temple area, completely closing the rail route.
• Over a dozen trains were affected by debris,including the Vande Bharat Express.
• A Shiva temple adjacent to the railway track collapsed due to the landslip.
• Heavy rains in Haridwar have caused further cracking of the Mansa Devi hills. The same location faced a similar obstruction days earlier due to another landslide.
• Despite an iron net installed between the hill and tracks, big rocks broke through it during this incident.
• Restoration efforts are underway with teams using gas cutters and JCBs to clear debris; work could take up to 8-10 hours.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The recurring nature of landslips along critical infrastructure like railways in Uttarakhand underscores concerns regarding climate change-induced damages and insufficient mitigation measures against natural disasters in hilly regions. Despite preventive installations such as iron nets, it appears that existing systems remain inadequate against heavy rains or larger geological instabilities. the disruption of services impacts travel logistics for commuters as well as freight movement potentially straining local economies reliant on smooth intercity transport.

Considering India’s focus on building resilient public infrastructure akin to rapid rail projects like Vande Bharat Expresses nationwide-reinforced disaster-proof designs may need integration especially across vulnerable zones prone otherwise geologically active typology aligning sustainable safeguards!

For Read More: The Hindu