Memorable train journey through rain soaked coastal belt

Report and Pictures by Dr. Eugene D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 22 July 2010:  Travelling anywhere during monsoon is an adventure by itself that too if incessant rains disrupt the journey. One can enjoy heavy rains sitting at home cosily and enjoying the fury and sound of the rain lashing across the trees and fields by sipping hot cup of tea or coffee besides munching fried native eatables such as jack fruit ‘garyos’ or ‘bajias’.

As the short trip to Mumbai in the beginning of the week was pre-planned, i packed few things and decided to take the ‘Devi Prasad’ bus to Udupi on way to the railway station which passes closer to my residence at 1 pm.  As it was raining since the previous day, there was no respite and i decided to brave the rains and proceed as planned.  

Reaching the railway station half an hour before the arrival of ‘Matsyagandha’, i had an apprehension that due to the heavy rain the train may be delayed.   But the train arrived and left in time. Cutting across the heavy rain, the train rattled as per its prescribed monsoon speed. Though the view outside the train was not very clear due to the rain, i could see the green paddy fields passing in quick succession many of them in low-lying areas being inundated due to continuous rain. In certain isolated fields famers were still ploughing the fields and women labourers were transplanting the paddy saplings.

The heavy rain since previous day had caused flooding in many areas all along the railway track. The rivers that the train crossed were practically overflowing. I could see an capture in camera some of the rivulets and streams that were flowing with muddy water. In spite of the rains and flooding of certain areas by the side of the tracks, the train made its way through and reached Madgoan by 7.30 pm. It is a common sight during the monsoon that some of the railway stations become temporary shelters for the beggars and destitute who have no other place of refuge to protect themselves from the rains.

The onward journey was in the dark of the night. However, the lashing of the rain on the windows could be felt throughout the night. The continuous rain throughout the coastal belt did not prevent ‘Matsyagandha’ keeping its time and it reached Thane railway station where i had to alight at 5.30 am. I felt that by all standards, this was the fastest journey that i had in spite of my fear of the train getting late due to rain related problems.

The train journey through the rain soaked coastal belt is indeed an experience  that can be cherished for a long time. With greenery all around with paddy fields looking like the green patches, the country houses, overflowing rivers, gushing rivulets and streams with reddish water and the sound of the rain blended with rattling of the train takes one to a strange world at least for the period of the train journey.