Train services on Bengaluru-Shivamogga route were disrupted following landslide on the railway track at Haliyooru near Tarikere on Friday. The services of more than eight express trains were terminated at Birur, around 40 km from the landslide spot.

South Western Railways Public Relations Officer Sainath told DH train traffic was expected to return to normalcy once the mounds of soil dumped on the tracks were removed. However, by evening, a passenger train stranded at Tarikeri railway station continued its onward journey with the railway staff clearing the track. The train services are likely to be normalised by Saturday evening, Sainath added.

The disruption inconvenienced hundreds of passengers travelling on the route. The passengers said that the landslides on the stretch had become common after a tunnel was dug below the railwayline as part of Upper Bhadra project. Following the protest by the passengers, the railway officials refunded the ticket fare. The passengers continued their journey by buses. Senior railway officials and engineers visited the landslide site.