Cyclone Remal Flooding Cuts Rail Connection Between Northeastern States and India

Guwahati: Several northeastern states, including Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, and Assam (in the south), remained cut off from the rest of the country by railways as the railways were wet and damaged following incessant rains unleashed after Cyclone Remal, said on Wednesday.

An official of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said the railway tracks were submerged or damaged at least ten places along the New Haflong-Bandarkhal section of Lumding district in Dima Hasao district of South Assam due to heavy rains. Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram.

"Our engineers and staff are working round the clock to restore rail traffic, but heavy rain and adverse weather conditions have adversely affected the restoration work," an NFR official told IANS.

Also Read: Centre Issues Citizenship Certificates To People From Bengal, Haryana Under CAA

He said that full-scale work cannot begin until the rain stops.

Since Tuesday, NFR has canceled many express, passenger, and goods trains to South Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram.

According to an NFR official, passenger and freight train services in the region have been affected since April 25 as heavy landslides damaged the railway tracks on the Jatinga Lumpur-New Harangajao section under the Lumding division after heavy rains hit the mountainous Dima Hasao- area.

Considering the damaged tracks and weak surface of the area, the NFR recently operated a limited number of trains on the hilly route and regulated long-distance and high-speed trains. The disruption in services has resulted in a severe shortage of transport fuels - petrol and diesel - and other essential commodities in South Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur. Heavy rains and landslides have also affected road connectivity in those states, which are highly dependent on imported fuel, essential commodities, food grains, and other commodities.

Also Read: Porsche Case: Dean Put On Leave After MLA, Minister’s Letters Lead To Reinstatement Of Doctor In Porsche Case