Guwahati, Jul 20 (PTI) The deluge in Upper Assam severely hit railway traffic in the region as vast stretches of tracks remained inundated, forcing several trains to be rerouted while many others were suspended or short-terminated, Northeast Frontier Railway said on Monday.
NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment, the swollen Dikhow River flooded Simaluguri town in Sivasagar district in Tinsukia Division.
“Floodwaters have entered the station yard and the railway colony. The railway tracks in the area have also been inundated. To ensure the safety of passengers, train movement in the Simaluguri-Namtiali and Simaluguri-Selenghat sections has been suspended until further notice,” he added.
Long-distance trains from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia have been diverted through the Rangiya-Rangapara route on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, Sharma said.
“A number of local trains have either been cancelled or short-terminated. Necessary measures are being taken to restore train movement at the earliest. Required men and materials have been dispatched to the affected locations. The situation is being continuously monitored at the highest level,” he added.
Due to the high water level, it is not possible to determine the expected time of restoration, the CPRO said.
“The extent of damage to the tracks can be ascertained only after water recedes,” he added.
The senior official further said that in connection with the diversion of long-distance trains due to the flood situation at Simaluguri, NFR is taking proactive action to facilitate the passengers onboard these trains.
“Arrangements of food packets, drinking water and refund of tickets have been made. Help desks have been set up at all stations. ASTC buses and local vehicles have been arranged at Namtiali for the movement of passengers to Sibsagar Town station. From Sibsagar Town station, a special train has been planned for Dibrugarh and New Tinsukia,” he added.
Sharma said 217 passengers deboarding from 22503 Vivek Express at Selenghat are being transported by road to Mariani, while 570 passengers of 15959 Kamrup express and 490 passengers of 15934 Amritsar Tinsukia Express deboarding at Mariani are being facilitated.
The Indian Army has been deployed to evacuate people stranded in several districts of Upper Assam due to floods, with the condition deteriorating amid incessant rain across many parts of the state, the chief minister’s office said on Monday.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said four of his cabinet colleagues are on the ground and monitoring the rescue and relief operations. PTI TR TR ACD
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