Continuous heavy rains for nearly a week have disrupted normal life in the state, blocking roads and damaging infrastructure. The Northern Railway has announced that all services on the UNESCO World Heritage narrow-gauge route will remain suspended until September 5 as engineers work to clear debris and repair damaged sections of the track, particularly near Datiyar in the Solan district, where a portion of the track has reportedly been washed away.

The suspension has hit local tourism-related businesses hard, especially during the monsoon season when many visitors prefer the toy train for its scenic yet relatively safe travel experience.

Luckey, President of the Taxi Union at Shimla Railway Station, told ANI that the halt in services has left many drivers struggling to make ends meet.

“The rain has caused a lot of trouble. Roads are blocked almost everywhere. Our business has been badly affected. The train was our only link, bringing in some tourists, but it has been closed for five days now. We are finding it hard to even cover our daily expenses,” Luckey said.

He added that while the Railway has officially notified suspension until September 5, the damage is extensive.

“They say landslides have occurred in multiple places and near Datiyar, the track itself is gone. Even here at the station, we have to leave our vehicles and walk to avoid damage, because trees are falling everywhere. Our livelihood was running only because of the train, but since it stopped, everything has come to a standstill,” he lamented.

Authorities have deployed teams to clear landslides and restore connectivity on the track, but with more rain forecast, the timeline for resumption of services remains uncertain.

The Kalka-Shimla toy train, built in 1903, a heritage train route is one of the region’s biggest tourist draws, offering panoramic views of the mountains, valleys, and colonial-era architecture. Its prolonged suspension during peak monsoon season is expected to cause further economic strain on those dependent on tourism in the city.

India based travel distribution platform TBO has agreed to acquire Classic Vacations from Phoenix-based investment firm, The Najafi Companies.

The transaction value is estimated at up to $125 million.

The acquisition brings together TBO’s technology platform and worldwide inventory with Classic Vacations network of luxury travel advisors and suppliers.

Classic Vacations delivered revenue of $111 million and an operating EBITDA of $11.2 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

“We’re thrilled to bring Classic Vacations into the TBO family – the company’s longstanding delivery of outstanding services has earned the trust of its more than 10,000 travel advisors in the U.S,” said Gaurav Bhatnagar, TBO’s co-founder and joint managing director.

“Classic Vacations is led by a strong team of experts and will continue as an independent brand.”

“As we start working on integrating Classic Vacations with TBO, we will remain open to similar strategic alliances going forward,” added Ankush Nijhawan, co-founder and co-managing director.

Melissa Krueger, CEO of Classic Vacations, added:  “Together, we’re strengthening Classic Vacations’ position as the premier luxury partner in the market while extending our reach onto the global stage.”

Classic Vacations was bought by The Najafi Companies in 2021 from Expedia Group.

Classic Vacations has a large network of high-value travel advisors and deep ties with major American consortia.

It delivers premium service across hotels, air, experiences, car rentals, and travel protection, specializing in bespoke luxury itineraries.

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The Union Home Ministry on Monday, September 1, issued an order announcing that the government now exempts minority communities, namely, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian fleeing religious persecution from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who entered the country by December 31, 2024, without requiring valid passports or travel documents.

“A person belonging to a minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian, who was compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered into India on or before the 31st December, 2024,” read the order from the home ministry.

Interestingly, the order did not name Muslims. This is in line with the BJP-led government’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that was passed in 2019 to facilitate this. It had le to severe protests from Muslims and other citizens who said the law is discriminatory in nature and that it can also be misused to disenfranchise Muslims in the country.

In fact, over the last few months the central government and BJP-led state governments have been targeting Indian Muslims from West Bengal who were being picked up on false allegations of being Bangladeshi citizens. Several prominent activists including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam are currently in jail having spent nearly five years in prison on charges of inciting riots in Delhi amid the anti-CAA protests.

It was issued as part of a series of directives made public by the Union Home Ministry, under the newly enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which came into effect on Monday, September 1.

The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, aims to grant the Union government the power to control the entry and exit of individuals into and from India by regulations that outline requirements for travel documents, such as passports, and govern various aspects of foreign nationals’ stay, including visa rules, registration procedures, and other related matters.

Previously, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was enforced last year, extended the eligibility for citizenship only to non-Muslim minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

While the recent directive allows certain individuals to stay in India without documentation if they arrived by December 31, 2024, it doesn’t guarantee citizenship. 

In contrast, the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act offers a path to citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India before December 2014. 

The CAA’s exclusion of Muslims sparked widespread protests and concerns about discrimination, secularism, and potential disenfranchisement.