Train services between South Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, and the rest of India via Guwahati were disrupted again due to landslides in Assam’s Lumding-Badarpur Hill section. Several major trains have been affected. Restoration is underway, causing travel delays and hardship in northeastern states during the monsoon season.
Train services connecting South Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram with the rest of the country have once again been thrown into disarray due to a fresh landslide in Assam’s Lumding-Badarpur Hill section. This is the third such incident since June 23, highlighting the recurring vulnerability of the region’s railway network during the monsoon season.
Officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) confirmed that the latest disruption occurred on Monday between the Mupa and Dihakho stations under the Lumding Division, following a landslide triggered by continuous rainfall. The affected section lies in the hilly terrain of Assam’s Dima Hasao district, which is known for its susceptibility to landslides during the rainy season.
Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the NFR, stated that due to the landslide, earth and boulders have blocked the railway tracks, forcing the suspension of train services until further notice. “Restoration work has already begun. Senior engineers and officials are on site to supervise the clearance and repair process. Our team is working round the clock to normalize the situation,” Sharma said.
In the wake of the disruption, the NFR has partially cancelled, rescheduled, and regulated around ten major express trains. These include services connecting New Tinsukia, Secunderabad, Kolkata, Sealdah, Agartala, Anand Vihar (Delhi), Bengaluru, Sabroom (Tripura), Guwahati, and Silchar.
To assist passengers affected by the cancellations and delays, the railway authorities have set up help desks at Guwahati, Lumding, Silchar, Badarpur, and Agartala railway stations. Officials at these stations are providing real-time updates and support to stranded travelers.
This latest incident follows a pattern of disruptions that have plagued the Lumding-Badarpur section in recent weeks. After a week-long suspension of services starting June 23 due to similar landslides, normal operations had only just resumed on June 30. However, a subsequent minor landslide on July 3 led to a one-day disruption before services were briefly restored on July 4.
The repeated blockages underscore the fragile nature of the region’s railway infrastructure, particularly during the monsoon season, which typically runs from June to September. Each year, heavy rainfall results in frequent landslides, waterlogging, and damage to tracks, cutting off essential connectivity between the northeast and mainland India.
The Lumding-Badarpur Hill section, being a single-line track through mountainous terrain, has often borne the brunt of these natural disruptions. This section is the only railway lifeline connecting South Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram to the rest of the country via Guwahati. When this route is blocked, it causes not just passenger inconvenience but also delays in goods and essential commodities reaching the region.
Commuters, traders, and state authorities have repeatedly urged the central government and Indian Railways to take long-term measures for strengthening the railway infrastructure in this sensitive region. Suggestions have included laying double tracks, installing slope protection systems, and improving drainage facilities along vulnerable hill stretches.
Local residents and frequent travelers in Tripura and southern Assam expressed frustration at the repeated disruptions. “Every monsoon we face the same issue. Travel becomes uncertain, and prices of goods go up due to supply delays,” said Ratan Das, a trader from Agartala. “There should be permanent solutions to this recurring problem.”
In response to the concerns, the NFR has reportedly prepared a detailed action plan for enhancing track stability and implementing early-warning systems in landslide-prone areas. However, such projects require significant investment and time, and for now, passengers and railway workers alike must cope with the immediate challenges brought by the monsoon.
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Railway authorities have assured that restoration work is in full swing and normalcy is expected to be restored at the earliest. However, given the unpredictable nature of weather conditions and the topography of the region, further disruptions cannot be ruled out in the coming weeks.
