Parts of the iconic Matheran Hill Railway were blocked by a landslide and buried under mud, rocks and debris after heavy rain in Karjat on Monday night. Karjat recorded 112 mm of rainfall in just one hour on Monday, triggering the landslide near Kadyavarcha Ganpati, a few metres above Water Pipe station. The 21-km narrow-gauge line is already partially closed to passenger traffic during the monsoon as a safety measure.

A Central Railway spokesperson confirmed the damage and said the seasonal closure was intended to protect passengers and railway staff during the monsoon. Restoration work will be taken up to clear the debris and repair the affected section. “The date of opening is yet to be finalised,” the spokesperson said.