Bus connectivity between Bengaluru and coastal Karnataka and Kerala, has witnessed a slight improvement, while train services continue to remain paralysed, as a result of heavy rains since the start of the week.
Bus
Bus services between Bengaluru and Kozhikode have been restored with one bus each running on Bangalore-Calicut and Calicut-Bangalore routes. On Saturday morning, four buses from Kozhikode arrived in Bengaluru.
Officials at the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) suggested that there has been a slight improvement in road conditions as rains have started to recede in the coastal and Malnad districts.
“In Palghat-Thrissur-Ernakulam route, the relief operations are still going on. This road is yet to be opened for operations. On this route, we have got 13 services in one direction,” the KSRTC official said.
On Saturday morning, three premium (Multiaxle Volvo Airavat Club class) buses left from Bengaluru for the coastal districts at 6am with 45 passengers, at 7am with 37 passengers and at 8amwith 42 passengers. Premium services to all these routes were stopped since August 15.
Services were also restored up to Mercara via Kushalnagar since Saturday morning.
Since Friday, due to landslides and road blockages, buses have been plying on the longer Mangalore-SK border-Karkala-Kudremukh-
Rail
On Saturday morning, the Railways announced cancellation of Bengaluru-Kanyakumari Express. Yeshwantpur-Kannur and KSR Bengaluru-Kannur trains which were scheduled to leave Bengaluru on Saturday, were also cancelled.
The Railways also announced partial cancellation of KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam train between Coimbatore and Bengaluru while Ernakulam-Bengaluru Express is also cancelled.
SG Yatish, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, South Western Railway, said that as of Friday afternoon, these trains were cancelled as fresh landslides were reported on August 15 and August 16 at many locations in the Ghat section. He added that the trains starting from Majestic were cancelled due to heavy rain and landslides in Kerala.
While KSR Bengaluru-Kannur/Karwar Express and Kannur/Karwar-KSR Bengaluru journeys commencing on Friday were cancelled, Yeshwantpur – Karwar Express was announced as being partially cancelled between Hassan and Karwar for trains leaving from August 17, 20 and 22.
Similar partial cancellation was announced for Yeshwantpur- Mangalore Express with no train running between Hassan and Mangaluru for journeys on August 19 and 21.
Trains starting from Mangaluru were announced to run only till Hassan for Karwar–Yeshwantpur Express and Mangalore-Yesvantpur Express till August 22.