Heavy rain brings down 150-year-old clock tower at Kozhikode railway station

A heavy rainfall triggered the partial collapse of the 150-year-old heritage clock tower onto Platform No. 2 at Kozhikode railway station on Thursday (July 9, 2026) morning, narrowly averting a major disaster. No casualties or injuries were reported, as timely precautionary measures taken by security personnel ensured the area had been cordoned off before the incident. However, train operations on the route remained disrupted.

The incident occurred at around 11.10 a.m. The iconic clock tower, an architectural landmark of the old station building that houses the Station Master’s office and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) office, gave way, sending debris and roofing sheets crashing onto Platform No. 2 and the overhead traction wires.

According to railway sources, minor cracks were detected on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) itself on the vintage structure near the station, which is undergoing extensive redevelopment.

Acting promptly, RPF personnel moved passengers away from the premises. By Thursday morning, caution tapes and barricades were erected around the site. RPF officers said the building section was scheduled for controlled demolition later in the day, and the collapse occurred just as workers were preparing to set up additional safety barriers.

Emergency response teams, including the Fire and Rescue Services, the RPF, and the police, arrived immediately to commence clearing operations. Train services were temporarily suspended. For speedy debris clearance, the railway administration disconnected the power supply to the overhead lines across tracks 1, 2, and 3. Consequently, rail traffic was restricted exclusively to track number 4, causing long delays for several trains passing through the region.

Southern Railway officials confirmed major operational changes and diversions to standard schedules as a result of the power shutdown. The Thiruvananthapuram Central-Kozhikode Jan Shatabdi Express (Train No. 12076) had to short-terminate its journey at Kallayi station, and its corresponding return service to Thiruvananthapuram was rescheduled from Kallayi instead of Kozhikode.

Similarly, the KSR Bengaluru-Kozhikode Express (Train No. 16511) terminated its service at West Hill station. Long-distance commuters faced severe disruptions, with the Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Eranad Express running late for over an hour, while the Mumbai-Thiruvananthapuram Netravati Express was delayed by nearly two and a half hours. Additionally, the Kozhikode-Kannur Passenger, which was already stationed at the platform when the structure fell, was detained indefinitely.

Beypore MLA and former PWD Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, who visited the spot to review the situation termed the incident a serious oversight. He criticized the Railway authorities for the delay in safely dismantling the dilapidated structure. He also sought a comprehensive safety audit across all railway stations in the State currently undergoing modernization to ensure passenger safety.

Meanwhile, Railway officials stated that there was no oversight on their part as the collapse took place a few minutes ahead of the planned demolition, with all safety precautions in place. They said the train services would return to normalcy within a few hours and officials were working to restore the overhead power cables.