Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Express Derailment: Services Restored
Rail services in Kerala resume after the Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Express engine derailed due to a landslide near Parsala. All passengers are safe.
Rail operations in Kerala have finally resumed following the Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Express derailment caused by a sudden landslide near Parsala railway station. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, October 22, 2026, led to significant disruptions across the Southern Railway network.
The Incident Near Parsala Station
At approximately 2:19 AM IST, the engine of the Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Express (Train No. 22619) derailed at kilometer 249 in the Neyyattinkara–Parsala section. The derailment was triggered by a landslide in the area. Southern Railway has confirmed that despite the technical failure, all passengers and railway staff remained safe during the incident.
Immediately following the accident, an Accident Relief Train (ART) and specialized personnel were dispatched to the site to begin track restoration and conduct thorough safety inspections.
Train Cancellations and Delays
The derailment caused a ripple effect across several routes, leading to the full cancellation of six passenger trains on October 22, 2026:
- Train No. 56306 & 56310: Thiruvananthapuram North–Nagercoil Jn.
- Train No. 56309 & 56305: Nagercoil Jn.–Thiruvananthapuram North
- Train No. 56102 & 56101: Nagercoil Jn.–Kollam Jn.
Furthermore, the Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Express was short-terminated at Neyyattinkara. To assist passengers traveling toward Tirunelveli, the railway authorities arranged alternative bus services.
Impact on Other Major Services
Several other trains faced significant delays or were held en route, including:
- Kanniyakumari–Mangaluru Central Parasuram Express
- Tambaram–Thiruvananthapuram Central Special
- Madurai–Punalur Express
- Tambaram–Thiruvananthapuram Central Amrit Bharat Express
Weather Alerts and Passenger Assistance
The landslide follows heavy rainfall warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). An orange alert was issued for the Thiruvananthapuram district on October 21, followed by a yellow alert spanning from October 22 to October 25.
To assist stranded or affected passengers, Southern Railway has established three dedicated helpline numbers:
- 9188241681
- 9188523905
- 8590137970
Track restoration has since been successfully completed, and normal rail operations have resumed in the section.