The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has been forced to cancel several trains in Assam due to heavy rainfall and landslides caused by Cyclone Remal. The disruptions have significantly impacted train connectivity in Tripura, parts of Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram, causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers.
Disruptions in Train Services
The NFR has cancelled several trains, including the Guwahati-Dullabcherra Express, Guwahati-Silchar Express, Rangiya-Silchar Express, Guwahati-Agartala special train, Silchar-Secunderabad Express, and the Lokmanya Express, which links Agartala and Mumbai. Partially cancelled trains include the Coimbatore-Silchar Express, Tripurasundari Express, Kanchanjungha Express, Silchar-Guwahati Express, and Agartala-Kolakata Special Express. The Humsafar Express and Badarpur-Guwahati tourist Express were also cancelled due to the suspension of tracks in the New Hadlong-Jatinga Lumpur and Ditokcherra yard of the Lumding division.
Impact on Passenger Travel
The cancellation has left hundreds of passengers stranded, including those who were travelling to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha elections. Many passengers, including Muslim migrant workers, were unable to reach their destinations in time to exercise their right to vote. Ahmed Touhid, a 25 years-old-passenger, was left stranded at Hojai station, unable to board his train to Badarpur in the Karimkanj district. Similarly, Saleh Ahmed, who was travelling from Guwahati to Karimkanj, was unable to vote due to the disruption.
Read Connectivity Disrupted
The heavy rainfall has also severely impacted road connectivity in Assam’s Barak Valley. The Haflong-Silchar road has been completely cut off after a section was washed away near Harangajao, while the Haflong-Harangajao route is blocked by multiple landslides. The District Disaster Management Authority and Dima Hasao police have issued an advisory against travelling at night, except on the Umrangso Lanka route.
Flood Situation
The Barak River has surged above the danger mark, causing flooding in several areas of Silchar town. The railway station in Silchar’s Tarapur locality, situated close to the river, has been engulfed by the rising waters. As a result, train services to and from Silchar have been disrupted, with services to and from Silchar, a crucial hub in Barak Valley, either being cancelled to short-terminated.
Relief Efforts
The NFR has been working to restore railway services, but the heavy rainfall and adverse weather condition have hindered their progress. Engineers and workers are working tirelessly to repair the damaged tracks, but full-fledged work cannot commence until the rain subsides. To mitigate the transportation challenges, a one-way special train was operated from Guwahati to Sealdah on Thursday.
Conclusion
This disruption in train services in Assam due to heavy rainfall and landslides caused by Cyclone Remal has caused significant inconvenience to thousands of passengers. The cancellation has left many stranded, including those who were travelling to exercise their right to vote. The NFR is working to restore services, but the situation remains challenging due to the adverse weather conditions.
