Waterlogging disrupts Konkan Railway traffic; restored after 18 hours
Panaji, July 10: Traffic on the Konkan Railway route was restored on Wednesday evening after an 18-hour-long disruption caused by waterlogging at Pernem tunnel near Goa.
Clearance for train traffic was given at 8.35 pm, the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The movement of trains on the coastal route was first suspended at 2.35 pm on Tuesday when it was noticed that water was oozing in the Pernem tunnel in the Madure-Pernem section amid heavy rains.
The waterlogging was cleared and traffic clearance was given at 10.13 pm on Tuesday night. But water again started seeping in the tunnel with a greater intensity at 2.59 am on Wednesday, forcing KRCL to suspend traffic, said its Deputy General Manager Baban Ghatge.
Some trains were cancelled while others were diverted, he said.
As per a bulletin issued by KRCL at 9 in the morning, train number 10104 Mandovi Express leaving towards Mumbai from Margao, train number 50108 Margao to Sawantwadi (Maharashtra), 22120 Margao to Mumbai Tejas Express, 12052 Margao to Mumbai Janashatabdi Express and 10106 Sawantwadi-Diva Express were cancelled.
The trains that were diverted included train number 19577 Tirunelveli -Jamnagar express, 16336 Nagarcoil-Gandhidham Express, 12283 Ernakulum-Hazrat Nizamuddin express and 16346 Thiruvananthapuram Central Lokmanya Tilak Express.
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at various railway stations across Goa, including Margao, Canacona, Karmali, Thivim and Pernem.
The sudden cancellation led to chaotic scenes, particularly at Margao station in South Goa. A group of 200 travellers from Gujarat, including 60 senior citizens, found themselves stranded when the Goa Samparkranti Express was cancelled just two hours before departure.
"There is a group of 200 people with us, of which at least 60 are senior citizens. We were told two hours in advance that the train was cancelled. What should we do now?" questioned Abdul Walekar, a member of the group on tour to Goa.
Traffic on the Konkan Railway route has been restored after meticulous work by the KR team. TFC was issued at 20:35 hrs. @RailMinIndia
— Konkan Railway (@KonkanRailway) July 10, 2024
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Kharge rules out Chief Minister change in Karnataka 'for now'
Kalaburgai (Karnataka) (PTI): AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said there was no Chief Minister change in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state will be resolved soon.
The Congress chief's statement comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in lines with a rumoured power-sharing agreement with CM Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly polls.
"You (media), he (Parameshwara) and people at the top say that it is better if I become (the chief minister). But, more than fate, as per my ideology and as per my service to the party so far, Sonia Gandhi takes decisions regarding me," he said in response to a question about Home Minister G Parameshwara's statement about Kharge becoming the CM.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "But, that question does not arise now. There is already a Chief Minister here. If Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and I, together, have to take any decision in the direction of a change, it will take some time. Let's wait and see."
Amid speculations about the leadership change in Karnataka, Parameshwara said on Wednesday that everyone in the ruling Congress party will welcome, if Kharge, a senior politician with a lot of experience, becomes the chief minister.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
To a question on JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy's statement that about 40 Congress MLAs having booked tickets to Delhi next month, amid the leadership tussle in the Congress, Kharge said, "I don't know, ask him for details."
