Story of a historical haunted place, The Barog Tunnel, Shimla

 

The train route from Kalka railway station to Shimla is 93 km. long. There are 103 tunnels are existing on this entire route. Among those tunnels the Barog tunnel is the longest one. It is 1100 meter long. This tunnels is connected to some important historical incidents. According to the local people this tunnel is haunted. 

In the year 1898 Kalka to Shimla railway route was started to build. On this route the most difficult work was to build this tunnel. British engineer colonel Barog was appointed to do this job. Because he was efficient and dedicated to his work. To complete the work quickly he planned to start digging the tunnel from both sides of the mountain. But his calculation had gone wrong and both the digging sides of the tunnel did not meet with each other. When the British government knew about this unfortunate incident colonel Barog was dismissed from his work and Rs.1 penalty was charged on him. At that time Rs.1 was very much valuable. All the workers of this tunnel were making fun of him. Colonel Baron became very much depressed for the humiliation and one morning he went to the tunnel and shot himself.

Afterwards the responsibility to complete this tunnel was given to chief engineer H.S. Harrington. But he could not understand how to complete this impossible work. Then some local people suggested him to go to baba Bhalku. It was believed that he was a divine person and he had some natural skills of construction. Baba bhalku agreed to help Harrington and the tunnel work was started again. Colonel Brog drilled from two sides but later on with the help of baba Bahlku, engineer Harrington started to drill form one side of the tunnel and it was extended to complete the whole work. . Now the trains run 25km/hour speed through the tunnel and it takes 2min 30 sec. The other half of that incomplete tunnel was left as it was and the government locked it .But according to the local people from the other incomplete tunnel they have been hearing some noises like some person talks in English. Even some people claimed that they entered that incomplete tunnel and talked with someone in English. People believed that it is the ghost of colonel Baron but he is not harmful. But there are not such evidences, these are like myths among people. This tunnel was named after colonel Barog and a railway museum was established after the name baba Bhalku.