Monsoon Landslides Disrupt Train Services

Heavy monsoon rain and bad weather have caused major train service problems in India, Sri Lanka, and Spain. Workers are busy repairing the damaged railway tracks and electrical systems. In India, the East Coast Railway is dealing with big service stoppages on the Kotavalasa-Kirandul line due to a 14-day landslide crisis between Maligura and Chhatariput stations. The landslide caused heavy damage to the Maligura Yard and overhead electric installations. Because of this damage, the East Coast Railway announced that the Howrah-Jagdalpur Express, Visakhapatnam-Kirandul Passenger, and Bhubaneswar-Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express will stop early at Koraput for trips between October 8 and 12, 2026. The return trips will also start from Koraput between October 9 and 14. Other trains like the Visakhapatnam-Kirandul-Visakhapatnam Night Express and the Rourkela-Jagdalpur Express are suspended until October 12 and 13.

Train Resumption in Sri Lanka and Spain

In Sri Lanka, train services started again on October 8, 2026, after a train hit earth and rocks between Kadugannawa and Ihala Kotte, and another landslide happened at Angunawela. The National Building Research Organisation gave permission to start trains again after fixing broken bridges and tracks. However, a senior scientist warned that the danger of more landslides is still present. The decision to start trains again caused arguments because the Railway Station Masters Association said the trains started without proper approval. Meanwhile, in Catalonia, Spain, a train with 100 passengers hit a landslide and a fallen tree near Vilanova on October 6, 2026. The railway union stopped operations the next day to ask for written safety reports. Emergency teams are still watching the affected areas and telling passengers to check train status updates while repairs continue.