HARIPUR: The train service on Havelian-Taxila route was restored following the repair work by the Railway authorities of the rain-affected portion of the railway track, about a kilometre from Haripur railway station, which was damaged by flash flood, official sources told Dawn.

The Railway authorities said that the heavy rain lashed the area on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning intermittently and the rainwater accumulated at Haripur-Taxila road made its way towards the Railway track damaging the sleepers, the stones and the earth layer beneath the Railway track.

The flash flood according to officials washed away the layer, leaving 5 feet deep and about 10 feet wide breach, confirming the track remained intact but trains movement could not be allowed in such a condition.

The officials said that the Railway’s patrolling staff spotted the damaged portion early in the morning and informed the higher authorities, who got the Havelian bound Rawalpindi passenger train 267up stopped at Taxila Cantt Railway station to avoid any eventuality.

The train service was restored after about eight hours when the staff from Haripur and Rawalpindi jointly carried out the repair work and successfully constructed the embankment and filled the gap beneath the track enabling the Hazara Express 11up and 12down to cross the repaired portion without any disruption.

The sources said that it was the same point where the breach had developed two years back and the reason was flooding of the track by rainwater accumulated on the side of the Haripur-Taxila road, which has a narrow exit.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2025