Severe Flooding Disrupts Railway Services in Upper Assam
Impact of Heavy Rainfall on Railway Operations
Floodwaters inundate railway tracks in Sivasagar's Nazira, on Monday. (AT Photo)
Guwahati/Lumding, July 20: Intense rainfall overnight led to significant flooding in Upper Assam, causing major disruptions to railway services on Monday. Passengers found themselves stranded at Lumding Junction as water levels rose, submerging tracks near Simaluguri in the Sivasagar district.
The flooding was caused by the Dikhow River overflowing, which affected the Simaluguri station yard, railway tracks, and nearby areas. As a result, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) halted train operations between the Simaluguri–Namtiali and Simaluguri–Selenghat sections for safety reasons.
This suspension resulted in the cancellation of numerous passenger and intercity trains, while many long-distance services were either diverted or had their routes altered, disrupting rail connectivity throughout Upper Assam.
At Lumding Junction, the abrupt cancellations left hundreds of passengers, including women, children, and the elderly, waiting for hours without clear information. Many expressed frustration over the lack of assistance from railway officials during this challenging time.
To alleviate the situation, the NFR arranged a special train from Lumding Junction to Jorhat for those heading towards Upper Assam. However, this additional service was not enough to accommodate the high number of stranded travelers.
In response to the chaos, the Lumding Division established a help booth at the station to provide information on train schedules, updates, and alternative travel options.
The flooding led to the cancellation of several trains, including:
• 55914 Tinsukia–Jorhat Town Passenger
• 75602 Tinsukia–Lumding DEMU
• 15604 Ledo–Guwahati Intercity Express
• 15968 Ledo–Rangiya Intercity Express
• 55910 Dibrugarh–Simaluguri Passenger
Additionally, the NFR canceled other services such as Jorhat Town–Tinsukia Passenger and Lumding–Tinsukia DEMU, while several long-distance trains were rerouted through the Rangiya–Rangapara–Dibrugarh path.
Some services were also short terminated or originated due to the flooding.
To support passengers on diverted trains, the railway provided food packets, drinking water, ticket refunds, and established help desks at various stations. ASTC buses and local transport were arranged at Namtiali to take passengers to Sibsagar Town station, where a special train was scheduled for Dibrugarh and New Tinsukia. The NFR also facilitated onward travel for those stranded on trains that were short terminated at Selenghat and Mariani.
Railway officials indicated that the affected track section is under continuous monitoring and inspection before services can resume. Passengers are advised to verify the latest train status prior to their journey.
This recent disruption highlights the ongoing challenges faced by railway connectivity in Upper Assam during the monsoon season, as frequent flooding continues to impact one of the region's vital rail corridors.