Train services in the Northeast remain suspended for the third day due to landslides in the Lumding–Badarpur Hill section. Restoration work is underway with heavy machinery and a large workforce. Officials aim to resume operations by Sunday amid continued rainfall and slope instability in the region.
Train services connecting southern Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram with the rest of India remain severely disrupted for the third consecutive day due to massive landslides in the Lumding–Badarpur Hill section, officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) confirmed on Wednesday. Restoration efforts are underway on a war footing, with authorities hoping to resume rail connectivity by Sunday.
The landslide, triggered by relentless heavy rainfall, has dealt a significant blow to the critical railway lifeline in the northeastern region. Approximately 100 meters of track in the hilly terrain has been badly damaged, bringing rail traffic to a complete halt since Monday evening. The Lumding–Badarpur section is a vital link for passenger and freight trains connecting the remote hill states to the national network via Guwahati.
Samir Lohani, Divisional Railway Manager of NFR’s Lumding Division, stated that intense restoration efforts are in progress, and train communication along the route is expected to be restored by Sunday, subject to weather conditions.
Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NFR, said the landslide was caused by a slope failure near a road located just 15 meters from the railway track. The landslide brought down a large volume of debris, severely affecting about 100 meters of track in the area.
Sharma explained that the restoration work is being handled with urgency due to the strategic importance of the route. A high-level meeting involving Assam Chief Secretary, the NFR General Manager, and senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and other agencies was held on Tuesday. A coordinated restoration plan was finalised and joint operations began immediately.
To accelerate the work, more than 25 units of heavy machinery, including excavators, JCBs, and dumpers, have been pressed into service. Around 200 labourers have been deployed at the site to assist with the manual removal of debris and other essential tasks.
Senior railway officers, including the Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, are stationed at the site to supervise the operations. The team is working around the clock to ensure safety and timely restoration of services. However, the challenges are immense.
Sharma highlighted that continuous rainfall and the gradual downward movement of loose soil from the hillside continue to pose serious hazards. The primary objective is to stabilise the slope to prevent further slides. Following this, around 25,000 cubic meters of debris and muck must be cleared from both the railway track and the unstable hill sections above it.
As a precautionary measure, the NFR has decided to cancel or partially cancel several train services passing through the affected section. Authorities have urged passengers to stay updated via official railway communication channels for the latest information on train schedules and service resumption.
Once the slope is stabilised and debris is cleared, protective structures will be erected to ensure long-term slope stability and safety of the railway track.
| Also Read: Landslide in Assam halts train services to Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur |
Monsoon-related disruptions are not new to the Northeast. Every year, the region—particularly Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and southern Assam—faces severe connectivity issues during the rainy season. Landslides, waterlogging, and damage to railway infrastructure frequently isolate these states from the rest of India, causing hardship for residents and delays in supply chains.
The NFR continues to appeal to passengers and local residents to remain patient and cooperate with authorities during this challenging period. All efforts are being made to ensure that services are restored safely and efficiently.
