Track settlement disrupts rail traffic in Assam; NFR cancels, reschedules trains

Maligaon, July 25 (MExN): Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has suspended the movement of passenger trains during night hours on the Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section following settlement of railway tracks near New Harangajao station, while restoration work continues on a war footing in flood-affected sections under Tinsukia Division.

In a statement, the NFR said Line-1 and Line-2 near New Harangajao station have been affected due to track settlement. At present, all train movements are being operated through Line-3 under strict monitoring and enhanced safety measures.

As a precaution, passenger train operations through the affected section have been suspended between 7 pm and 5 am. During daytime, trains are being allowed to pass under regulated conditions and continuous monitoring.

Railway personnel, engineering teams and heavy machinery have been deployed to restore the affected track section, and normal train operations are expected to resume once the work is completed safely.

As a result, Train Nos. 15617 Guwahati-Dullabcherra Express (July 25), 15618 Dullabcherra-Guwahati Express (July 26), 15615 Guwahati-Silchar Express (July 25 and 26) and 15616 Silchar-Guwahati Express (July 26 and 27) have been cancelled.

Several other trains, including the Narangi-Agartala, Agartala-Narangi, Guwahati-Sairang, Sairang-Guwahati, Agartala-Deogarh, Rangiya-Silchar, Silchar-Rangiya and Agartala-Rani Kamalapati services, have been rescheduled, while Train No. 12503 SMVT Bengaluru-Agartala Express will be regulated en route.

Meanwhile, the NFR said extensive restoration work is continuing in flood-hit railway sections under Tinsukia Division to restore normal services at the earliest.

Restoration activities are underway at multiple locations between Simalguri and Lakwa, Simalguri and Namtiali, Amguri and Selenghat, and Simalguri and Sibsagar Town, where engineers are undertaking formation strengthening, cess protection, bamboo piling, rail piling and ballast reinforcement.

A ballast rake has been positioned at the affected sites, while boulders, sandbags, stone dust and rails are being transported and unloaded continuously to strengthen damaged railway formations.

More than 700 labourers, supported by heavy machinery including Poclains and JCBs, have been deployed across the affected locations.

Senior officials of Tinsukia Division are closely monitoring the restoration work to ensure timely deployment of resources, adherence to safety standards and early resumption of train operations. The NFR said restoration work is being carried out round the clock with the objective of restoring railway services in the shortest possible time.