Severe Rainfall Disrupts Rail Services Between Assam and Mizoram

Heavy rainfall has caused severe soil erosion along the Katakhal-Bairabi railway section, disrupting rail services between Assam and Mizoram. The Northeast Frontier Railway has short-originated two trains and cancelled several others, impacting passengers and traders. Restoration efforts are underway, but challenges remain due to limited access to the affected area. Local authorities are calling for long-term solutions to prevent future disruptions. This incident highlights the ongoing issues faced by the railway infrastructure in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 4, 2026, 17:55 IST

Impact of Heavy Rainfall on Rail Connectivity

Soil erosion along the Katakhal-Bairabi section in Hailakandi (Photo: AT)

Hailakandi, Sept 4: Rail services connecting Assam and Mizoram faced significant disruptions due to heavy rainfall that caused severe soil erosion along the Katakhal-Bairabi railway section. This situation led the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to short-originate two trains from Hailakandi and cancel multiple others on Friday.

The NFR reported that approximately 70 meters of the railway track, with erosion extending up to 40 meters from the center, was compromised near the Jamira-Bairabi area.

Consequently, the Sairang-Guwahati Express (Train No. 15610) and the Sairang-Anand Vihar Terminal Express (Train No. 20507), both scheduled for departure on Friday, were short-originated from Hailakandi, with their services between Sairang and Hailakandi being cancelled.

This disruption followed heavy rainfall on the evening of September 3, which led to the extensive soil erosion affecting the railway infrastructure.

According to a press release from the NFR, the lack of direct road access to the affected area complicates restoration efforts.

Restoration activities have already begun, with railway officials evaluating the damage and overseeing the progress at the site.

Given the challenging site conditions and accessibility issues, the NFR indicated that the restoration process might take a considerable amount of time.

Additionally, several train services scheduled for September 4 were cancelled, including the Guwahati-Sairang Express (Train No. 15609), Silchar-Bairabi Express (Train No. 55667), and Sairang-Kolkata Express (Train No. 13126).

Train services such as the Bairabi-Silchar Express (Train No. 55668) and Silchar-Sairang Express (Train No. 55669) have also been cancelled for September 4 and 5, along with the Sairang-Silchar Express (Train No. 55670) scheduled for September 5.

This disruption has significantly impacted passengers and small traders reliant on the railway link between southern Assam and Mizoram.

To assist stranded passengers, especially women and children, railway authorities arranged alternative bus services on Thursday night to help them reach their destinations.

The disruption has also affected traders from Mizoram who frequently travel to Hailakandi by train to procure essential goods.

This incident follows previous damage reported at two locations in southern Hailakandi, where soil erosion occurred beneath the track at Choraibak, near the Mizoram border, on Thursday night, and another incident was noted at Killarbak near Jamira on Friday morning, where cracks were also observed on the track.

In response to these ongoing issues, Sushil Paul, a convenor of the Bairabi-Guwahati Train Demand Committee, has called for a long-term solution to the persistent soil erosion affecting the railway track in southern Hailakandi.

Paul urged authorities to carry out restoration and protective measures under the guidance of experienced railway engineers, highlighting the frequent disruptions along this route.