GUWAHATI, June 25: A massive landslide has severely disrupted train operations along the vital Lumding–Badarpur hill section, with the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) launching an urgent, round-the-clock restoration effort to clear the debris and resume services. The incident has left a significant portion of the rail track buried, prompting widespread cancellations and diversions.

The landslide, which struck earlier this week, dumped nearly 50,000 cubic metres of debris, including around 30,000 cubic metres that must be urgently cleared before repair work can begin. The force of the slide also damaged parts of the railway’s retaining wall, complicating the restoration task.

In response, NFR, in collaboration with the Assam State Government, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and other key agencies, held a high-level emergency meeting to assess the situation and coordinate a multi-agency restoration strategy. Heavy machinery and a large workforce have been deployed to the affected site, while senior railway officials from Lumding Division and NFR Headquarters are overseeing operations on the ground.

Train Disruptions and Cancellations

Several trains have been fully cancelled due to the damage:

• June 24:
  • 15611 Rangiya–Silchar Express
  • 15612 Silchar–Rangiya Express
  • 15615 Guwahati–Silchar Express
• June 25:
  • 15616 Silchar–Guwahati Express
  • 15888/15887 Guwahati–Badarpur Tourist Express
  • 22450 New Delhi–Guwahati PSK Express
• June 27:
  • 12503 SMVT Bengaluru–Agartala Humsafar Express

Partial Cancellations Include:

• 15625 Deoghar–Agartala Express (June 23): Terminating at Lumding
• 13173 Sealdah–Sabroom Kanchanjunga Express (June 24): Terminating at Lumding
• 12516 Silchar–Coimbatore Express (June 24): Originating from Guwahati
• 13176 Silchar–Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express (June 25): Originating from Lumding
• 12502 Agartala–Kolkata Garib Rath Express (June 25): Originating from Guwahati

Railway authorities have advised passengers to stay informed through official websites, helplines, and social media platforms for the latest updates on train services. While the NFR has expressed deep regret for the inconvenience, it has also emphasized that safety remains the top priority and that all possible resources are being mobilized to expedite restoration work.