Assam Floods Disrupt Railway Services: Restoration Efforts Underway
Impact of Flooding on Railway Operations
Floodwaters inundate railway tracks in Sivasagar's Nazira, on Monday. (AT Photo)
Guwahati, July 25: Severe rainfall has led to flooding and landslides, significantly affecting railway operations in Assam. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is prioritizing restoration efforts in the impacted areas.
NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, stated that restoration activities are being conducted urgently in the Tinsukia Division, where railway infrastructure has suffered considerable damage.
Efforts are focused on the stretch between Simalguri and Lakwa, where teams are working on protecting the cess and reinforcing the railway formations.
A ballast rake has been deployed at the site, and boulders are being unloaded from wagons to strengthen the compromised railway embankment.
In the Simalguri–Namtiali section, restoration is ongoing, with stone dust and boulders being continuously unloaded to expedite the reopening of the route.
In the Amguri–Selenghat section, protective measures are being implemented using sandbags, bamboo piling, and rail piling to stabilize vulnerable areas.
Similar protective works are also taking place between Simalguri and Sibsagar Town, where ballast is being mobilized to reinforce the track and hasten restoration.
Sharma noted that over 700 workers, supported by heavy machinery like Poclains and JCBs, are actively engaged in the restoration across all affected sites.
Materials such as ballast, boulders, sandbags, stone dust, and rails are being transported continuously to fortify damaged railway formations and accelerate restoration efforts.
Senior officials from the Tinsukia Division are closely overseeing the restoration to ensure effective coordination, timely resource deployment, and compliance with safety protocols.
Additionally, train services on the crucial Lumding–Badarpur Hill Section have also been disrupted due to track settlement near New Harangajao station caused by heavy rainfall.
Currently, all train movements are being managed through Line 3 under enhanced safety measures. To ensure passenger safety, services on the affected stretch have been suspended from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., while daytime operations are allowed under strict monitoring.
These restrictions have led to the rescheduling, cancellation, and regulation of numerous trains on the Lumding–Badarpur Hill Section.
Railway personnel, engineering teams, and heavy machinery are actively working to restore the affected tracks, with NFR expressing optimism that normal train services will resume once restoration is safely completed.
Officials have indicated that the Lumding–Badarpur hill section in Assam's Dima Hasao district is particularly susceptible to disruptions during the monsoon season from June to September, when landslides, waterlogging, and soil erosion frequently compromise railway infrastructure.
Such interruptions often hinder rail connectivity across the Northeast, impacting states like Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and parts of southern Assam, thereby affecting both passenger travel and the transport of essential goods.
The restoration efforts are taking place amidst a serious flood crisis in Assam. As of Saturday, floods have impacted 10 districts and around 810 villages, with nearly 115,000 individuals seeking refuge in relief camps.
The flood-related fatalities have surpassed 62, with Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat being among the most severely affected districts. The Dikhou, Disang, and Dhansiri rivers continue to rise above danger levels, worsening the situation.