Kalka-Shimla heritage tracks that survived a century fall to ‘poor drainage’

Kalka-Shimla heritage tracks that survived a century fall to ‘poor drainage’

Subject : History

Section: Art and culture

Context:

• On July 8, amid the commemoration of its 15th anniversary as a UNESCO Protected World Heritage site, the iconic 122-year-old Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge railway connection suffered its worst-ever calamity as its 96.6-km tracks got damaged at 135 points.

Details:

• Cause of destruction is the unscientific laying of drainage pipelines beneath the four-lane Kalka-Shimla national highway.
• The tracks saw obstructions at more than 135 locations — 100 between Kalka and Solan, and 35 between Solan and Shimla.
• The tracks pass through 102 tunnels with 988 bridges, and were given the UNESCO World Heritage Site status on July 8, 2008.
• The tracks were constructed more than a century ago and became operational in 1903.
• Over the last 122 years, it has endured heavy rain, cloudbursts, and survived due to its scientifically designed bridges.
• The engineers built these bridges after studying the natural waterfalls and landslide-prone areas, ensuring that water flows smoothly under them without harming the track.
• Before the tragedy struck, trial runs of four soundproof panoramic Vistadome coaches were under way.

About the Kalka–Shimla Railway:

• It is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge railway in North India which traverses a mostly mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla.
• It is known for dramatic views of the hills and surrounding villages. The railway was built under the direction of Herbert Septimus Harington between 1898 and 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the rest of the Indian rail system.
• Its early locomotives were manufactured by Sharp, Stewart and Company. Larger locomotives were introduced, which were manufactured by the Hunslet Engine Company.
• Diesel and diesel-hydraulic locomotives began operation in 1955 and 1970, respectively.
• On 8 July 2008, UNESCO added the Kalka–Shimla Railway to the mountain railways of India World Heritage Site.

List of UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites in India

List of UNESCO Cultural World Heritage sites in India

UNESCO Mixed World Heritage Sites

• A mixed site comprises components of both natural and cultural importance: