Assam floods disrupt rail services
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Guwahati, July 20: Services in parts of Assam have been suspended after severe flooding submerged railway tracks in the Simaluguri area of Sivasagar district. The Indian Railways said heavy rainfall in the upstream catchment caused the Dikhow River to overflow, inundating Simaluguri town, including the railway station yard, colony and nearby tracks.
According to Kapinjal Kumar Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), train operations on the Simaluguri–Namtiali and Simaluguri–Selenghat sections have been suspended until further notice as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety.
The flooding has also affected long-distance rail connectivity. Trains originating from Dibrugarh and New Tinsukia are being diverted through the Rangiya–Rangapara route, while several local train services have either been cancelled or short-terminated.
Sharma said railway teams have been deployed to restore operations at the earliest, with men and equipment already dispatched to the affected locations.
"Necessary measures are being taken to restore train movement at the earliest. The situation is being monitored continuously at the highest level. However, due to the high water level, it is not yet possible to assess the extent of damage to the railway tracks. Restoration work can begin only after the floodwaters recede," he said.
Railways Arrange Transport and Assistance for Stranded Passengers
To minimise inconvenience to passengers, the Northeast Frontier Railway has introduced several relief measures. Food packets, drinking water, ticket refund facilities and passenger help desks have been arranged at affected stations.
The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) buses and other local vehicles are ferrying passengers from Namtiali to Sibsagar Town station, from where a special train has been planned to operate towards Dibrugarh and New Tinsukia.
Railway officials said 217 passengers travelling on the 22503 Vivek Express, who deboarded at Selenghat, are being transported by road to Mariani. Additionally, 570 passengers from the 15959 Kamrup Express and 490 passengers from the 15934 Amritsar–Tinsukia Express, who got down at Mariani, are also being provided necessary assistance.