Guwahati, 20 July (HS): Floods triggered by the overflowing Dikhow River have severely disrupted railway operations in Upper Assam, forcing the suspension of train services in the Simaluguri section under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). Several long-distance trains have been diverted, while many passenger and intercity services have been cancelled.

According to NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, train movement between Simaluguri–Namti Ali and Simaluguri–Selenghat has been suspended until further orders after floodwaters submerged railway tracks, the station yard and nearby railway colonies. Engineering teams are continuously monitoring the affected tracks, and services will resume only after water levels recede and safety is ensured.

Major trains, including the Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Vivek Express, Avadh Assam Express and Dibrugarh–Chandigarh Express, have been diverted via the Rangiya–Rangapara North–North Lakhimpur–Dibrugarh route. Several trains have also been short-terminated or short-originated due to the disruption.

The floods have also led to the cancellation of multiple passenger, DEMU and intercity services connecting Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lido, Lumding and Rangiya.

To assist stranded passengers, NFR has set up help desks at major stations, arranged free food packets, drinking water and ticket refunds. ASTC buses and local transport have been deployed to ferry passengers between Namti Ali and Sivasagar Town, while special trains are being planned from Sivasagar Town to Dibrugarh and New Tinsukia.

Railway officials said 217 passengers of the Kanyakumari–Dibrugarh Vivek Express were transported by road from Selenghat to Mariani, while special arrangements have also been made for 570 passengers of the Kamrup Express and 490 passengers of the Amritsar–New Tinsukia Express. NFR said it is closely monitoring the flood situation and will restore services in phases once conditions improve.---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash