Silchar-Lumding trains services resume

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, April 21: A sense of fear among the travelling public of south Assam was created when a railway source pointed out of certain technical problems creeping in bridges and tunnels on Silchar-Lumding BG route. The movement of trains between Lumding to Silchar was temporarily suspended for checking of safety of assets in the wake of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the area. As a result train number 55615/55616 (Silchar – Guwahati – Silchar passenger) and 25658 (Silchar – Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express) were rescheduled.

 To assess the situation, a team of engineers led by the Principal Chief Engineer of NF Railway left for site by a special train from Guwahati on Tuesday. The team which included officers from NF Railway headquarters and Lumding Division carried out detailed inspection of the track, bridges, tunnels and formation between km 87 to km 122 of New Halflong – Ditockcherra section on the night of the day and following morning of Wednesday. After having satisfied themselves of the safety of the section for movement of passenger traffic, normal running of trains has been restored in the section with effect from 1 pm of Wednesday.

 It is to be mentioned here that owing to its geological formation and geographical conditions, Lumding – Silchar section has been traditiolly very vulnerable to landslide and other distress during the rainy season. Even during the metre gauge time, rail traffic used to get disrupted during rainy season. After gauge conversion, however ample measures have been taken by using better technology to ensure smooth movement of traffic. Sectiol speed has been enhanced from 50 kmph to 70 kmph in certain sections and from 70 kmph to 90 kmph in other sections.

 Watchmen have been posted at vulnerable locations for continuous monitoring of track condition. It is the result of constant technical inputs that passenger traffic has been resumed even when Barak Valley remains cut off by road from the rest of the country. NF Railway would like to reiterate that public at large need not panic as systems are in place in order to ensure safe movement of trains in the section. In an e-mail to The Sentinel, Prav Jyoti Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of NF Railway has shared the inputs.