CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu heavy rains landslides struck the Nilgiris district on Sunday, October 19, 2025, triggering multiple earth slips that blocked the iconic Nilgiri Mountain Railway tracks and forced the cancellation of all services. No casualties occurred, but authorities issued widespread weather alerts as a low-pressure system brewed in the Bay of Bengal. Southern Railway officials confirmed disruptions between Kallar and Coonoor at 4:35 PM.
The landslides underscore the vulnerability of South Asia’s hill stations to erratic monsoons, where climate shifts amplify risks to tourism economies and transport networks. In Tamil Nadu, a key gateway to southern India, such events disrupt livelihoods for thousands reliant on rail tourism, echoing broader regional patterns of flood-prone infrastructure straining under intensifying weather extremes.
Nilgiri Mountain Railway Cancelled Amid Debris Chaos
Southern Railway’s Salem Division announced the full suspension of Nilgiri Mountain Railway cancelled operations following Tamil Nadu heavy rains landslides. Earth slips dumped boulders, mud, and uprooted trees across the ghat section from Kallar to Coonoor, rendering the 46-km rack-and-pinion line impassable.
Train No. 56136 from Mettupalayam to Udagamandalam, Train No. 56137 from Udagamandalam to Mettupalayam, and special Train No. 06171 all faced cancellation on October 19. The heritage toy train, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, ferries over 300,000 passengers annually, mostly tourists drawn to Ooty’s misty hills.
A statement from Southern Railway read: “Earth slips occurred at several locations along the route, with boulders, mud, and fallen trees blocking the track between Kallar and Coonoor, disrupting train movement.” Officials prioritised track clearance, but no resumption timeline emerged by late afternoon.
The Nilgiri line, operational since 1908, navigates 208 curves and 16 tunnels through the Western Ghats. Past incidents, like the 2024 suspensions during Cyclone Fengal, highlight recurring threats from heavy precipitation. This time, the blockade stranded dozens of passengers at Mettupalayam station, with alternatives like bus services overwhelmed by slick roads.
Ooty Train Services Suspended Rain Alerts Spread Fear
Ooty train services suspended rain extended beyond the rails, as Tamil Nadu heavy rains landslides prompted school closures and fishing bans across coastal belts. In Thoothukudi district, waterlogging submerged low-lying areas, leading to a holiday for all educational institutions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heavy rainfall warning for October 19, forecasting isolated heavy falls over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. “Light to moderate rain/thunderstorm at many places with isolated heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu,” stated the IMD press release dated October 18, 2025.
Regional forecasts predicted thunderstorms and lightning in Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Madurai, Erode, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Thiruvallur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, and Ramanathapuram. Moderate downpours loomed over Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari, and Tenkasi.
A developing low-pressure area in the southeast Bay of Bengal, expected to intensify into a deep depression, fuelled the onslaught. IMD’s Chennai centre warned of winds up to 40 kmph along coasts, prompting advisories for fishermen. The Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare in Cuddalore directed: “All mechanised country boats, catamarans, and motorised fishing vessels not to venture into the sea until further notice. Fishermen currently in deep sea instructed to return immediately.”
No injuries surfaced from the Tamil Nadu heavy rains landslides, but district administrations mobilised teams for debris removal. In Nilgiris, local revenue officials coordinated with forest department crews to secure slopes prone to further slips.
Impacts Ripple Through Tourism and Local Economies
The Ooty train services suspended rain hit hard at peak season’s tail end. Ooty, or Udhagamandalam, draws 5 million visitors yearly, with the Nilgiri Mountain Railway contributing INR 50 million (about PKR 165 million) in ticket revenue alone. Hoteliers reported 20% cancellations by noon, as fog-shrouded roads deterred drives up the ghat.
Broader Tamil Nadu heavy rains landslides exposed infrastructure gaps. The state’s hill districts, part of the biodiverse Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, face annual monsoon battering. A 2024 state disaster management report noted 15 major slips in the past decade, costing INR 200 million (PKR 660 million) in repairs.
Farmers in Coonoor tea estates braced for crop losses, with early estimates pegging 10% yield dips from waterlogged roots. Tea, Tamil Nadu’s second-largest export earner at 150,000 tonnes annually, underpins 1 million jobs region-wide.
Coastal impacts compounded woes. Nagapattinam and Chennai saw flash floods, with 50 mm rainfall in four hours. Power outages affected 5,000 households in Puducherry, where transformers short-circuited under deluge.
Authorities urged vigilance, with Tamil Nadu’s revenue department activating 200 relief camps. Chief Minister’s office monitored via control rooms, allocating INR 10 million (PKR 33 million) for immediate aid.
Background: Monsoon Patterns in Southern India
Tamil Nadu’s northeast monsoon, from October to December, delivers 45% of annual rainfall, averaging 900 mm. Yet, anomalies linked to warming oceans have spiked extremes, 2023’s Michaung cyclone dumped 1,000 mm in days, killing 50.
The Nilgiris, at 2,000 metres elevation, amplify risks: steep gradients and loose soil invite slides. Historical data from IMD shows 30% rise in heavy rain days since 2000, correlating with El Niño fades.
Southern Railway maintains the line with annual INR 100 million (PKR 330 million) upkeep, including anti-slip netting. Post-2019 upgrades added 20 monitoring sensors, but nature’s fury persists.
Conservationists flag deforestation, 50% forest loss since 1950, as a culprit, urging reforestation drives. Tamil Nadu’s Green Tamil Nadu Mission planted 3 million saplings last year, targeting erosion hotspots.
What’s Next: Clearing Tracks and Bracing for More Rain
Restoration crews deployed cranes and earthmovers to the affected stretch, aiming for partial reopening by Tuesday if weather holds. Southern Railway promised refunds for 1,000 affected tickets.
IMD eyes the Bay system for escalation, with 70% chance of depression by October 21. Districts prepare sandbags and evacuation drills, while tourism boards pivot to virtual Ooty promotions.
As cleanup unfolds, Tamil Nadu heavy rains landslides remind of resilience needs. Enhanced early warnings and resilient rails could shield South Asia’s treasures from future tempests.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 19th, 2025
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