Published Oct 22, 2026 | 9:16 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 22, 2026 | 9:16 AM
Southern Railway opened a help desk at Thiruvananthapuram Central after trains were either cancelled, short terminated or rescheduled.
Synopsis: A developing low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to influence rainfall across the region. The IMD has indicated the possibility of very heavy rainfall at isolated places in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal through 25 October, followed by heavy rainfall in some areas on 26 October. Keralam is likely to receive heavy rain over the next few days as a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal brings thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds.
Schools have been declared closed on Thursday, 22 October, in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, Tirupattur and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu, as well as in Puducherry and Karaikal, due to heavy rainfall. The holiday applies only to schools.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on Thursday. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are also likely in parts of the region, with winds reaching 40–50 kmph at isolated places.
Rainfall activity is expected to continue over the coming days. The IMD has indicated the possibility of very heavy rainfall at isolated places in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal through 25 October, followed by heavy rainfall in some areas on 26 October.
A developing low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to influence rainfall across the region.
Meanwhile, IMD has issued an orange alert for Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode, while the remaining districts in Keralam will be under a yellow alert.
Another low-pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal around 23 October, which could bring more rain to the state on 23, 24 and 25 October.
Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram recorded the highest rainfall of 14 cm in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Wednesday. Kollam received 11 cm, while Peppara in Thiruvananthapuram, Chavara in Kollam and Pampadumpara in Idukki recorded 9 cm each.
Keralam is likely to receive heavy rain over the next few days as a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal brings thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds.
Train services were disrupted on the Neyyattinkara-Parassala section near Thiruvananthapuram after the Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Express locomotive derailed at 2.19 am on Thursday following a mudslide.
Southern Railway said all passengers and railway staff were safe.
Authorities arranged a relief locomotive and deployed an accident relief train to restore services.
Three trains were held en route, while five others were delayed at departure.
The Guruvayur-Chennai Egmore and Pune-Kanniyakumari Express trains were also expected to run late.
Restoration work is underway.
The incident comes amid heavy rain in the region, with the IMD issuing an orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday and a yellow alert from 22 to 25 October.
Train No. 22619 Bilaspur – Tirunelveli Express, which commenced its journey from Bilaspur on 20.10.2026, will be short-terminated at Neyyattinkara. The train is partially cancelled between Neyyattinkara and Tirunelveli. The railway has arranged buses to mobilise passengers to their destinations.
Train No. 16650 Kanniyakumari – Mangaluru Central Parasuram Express, scheduled to leave Kanniyakumari at 03.45 hrs on Thursday, has been rescheduled to leave at 07.00 hrs (i.e., 3 hours and 15 minutes late).
The following temporary contact numbers are available to provide passengers with up-to-date information about train services.
1) 9188241681
2) 9188523905
3) 8590137970.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
