Following the destructive monsoon that hit Himachal Pradesh earlier this month, the historic Kalka-Shimla Railway (KSR), which has been in existence for more than 120 years, will reopen in phases. The first phase includes the reopening of the Kalka-Koti section on September 10. Subsequently, the opening of the Koti-Solan section is scheduled for September 20 and the Solan-Shimla section is expected to be operational again on September 30. Ambala Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Mandeep Singh Bhatia stated that the reopening process is contingent on the absence of further rain-induced damage. The monsoon caused significant damage to this historic railway segment, resulting in significant damage to railway stations and tracks, as noted by Bhatia.

The region experienced a major monsoon, which led to the erosion of the railway line between Jutogh and Summer Hill stations. This incident marked the second major setback for the iconic railway line within a span of a few months, according to a report by The Indian Express. On July 8, the railroad faced another challenge when improper placement of drainage pipes under the Kalka-Shimla national highway resulted in landslides, causing debris, boulders and trees to obstruct the track at 135 sites, as reportedly stated by railway officials.

Built in the mid-19th century to meet the needs of Shimla, which served as the summer residence for colonial rule, the 96-kilometer railway crosses Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Initially with 107 tunnels, the number of tunnels of the line has been reduced to 102 due to landslides in the surrounding regions. These tunnels together make up about 8% of the total length of the Kalka-Shimla railway.