Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati
Guwahati, Jul 25: Ongoing floods and monsoon-triggered landslides have severely disrupted railway operations in several parts of Assam, prompting the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to launch large-scale restoration work to restore connectivity at the earliest, officials said on Saturday.
The rail disruptions come as the flood situation in the state remains critical, with more than 11 lakh people across over 2,000 villages affected. Around 1.15 lakh people have taken shelter in relief camps, while the death toll linked to floods has crossed 61. The districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat continue to be among the worst affected, with the Dikhou, Disang and Dhansiri rivers flowing above the danger mark.
NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said restoration work is being carried out on a war footing across flood-hit sections of the Tinsukia Division to resume normal train operations as quickly and safely as possible.
Between Simalguri and Lakwa, engineers are strengthening the railway embankment and protecting the track foundation. Ballast rakes have been positioned at the site, while boulders are being unloaded to reinforce vulnerable stretches damaged by floodwaters.
Similar restoration efforts are underway in the Simalguri–Namtiali section, where railway teams are rebuilding the track formation using stone dust and boulders. In the Amguri–Selenghat stretch, protective measures including sandbags, bamboo piling and rail piling are being used to stabilise weakened embankments.
Work is also progressing in the Simalguri–Sibsagar Town section, where bamboo piling, embankment protection and ballast reinforcement are being carried out to expedite the reopening of the route.
According to Sharma, more than 700 workers have been deployed across the affected locations, supported by heavy machinery such as Poclain excavators and JCBs. Large quantities of ballast, boulders, stone dust, sandbags and railway rails are being transported continuously to strengthen damaged infrastructure.
Senior officials of the Tinsukia Division are supervising restoration work on-site to ensure efficient coordination, timely deployment of resources and strict adherence to safety protocols.
The NFR also reported disruptions on the strategically important Lumding–Badarpur Hill Section after railway tracks near New Harangajao station developed settlement due to heavy rainfall.
As a precaution, train operations on the affected route have been shifted entirely to Line-3, while Lines 1 and 2 remain under repair. Passenger train movement through the damaged section has been suspended during night hours between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. to ensure safety. During the day, trains are operating under regulated speeds and continuous monitoring.
The disruption has led to the rescheduling, cancellation and regulation of several passenger services on the Lumding–Badarpur route. Railway authorities said normal operations will resume only after restoration work is completed and the tracks are certified safe for traffic.
An NFR official noted that the Lumding–Badarpur Hill Section, which passes through the hilly terrain of Dima Hasao district, is particularly vulnerable during the monsoon season. Heavy rainfall between June and September frequently triggers landslides, waterlogging and soil erosion, damaging railway infrastructure and disrupting services.
These recurring disruptions often affect rail connectivity between the Northeast and the rest of the country, particularly impacting Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and southern Assam, where prolonged interruptions create difficulties for passengers and delay the movement of essential commodities.