Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Express Derails in Assam’s Dima Hasao; No Major Injuries Reported

GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 17th Oct. Eight coaches, including the power car and engine, of the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express derailed at Dibalong station in Assam’s Dima Hasao district on Thursday afternoon, officials from the Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway reported. Fortunately, no fatalities or major injuries have been reported so far.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reassured the public through a post on X, stating, “No major casualty or injury and all passengers are safe. We are coordinating with railway authorities and a relief train will shortly reach the site.”

An accident relief medical train was dispatched from Lumding, accompanied by senior officers to oversee rescue operations and restoration efforts. NF Railway officials confirmed that the derailment occurred at 3:55 pm, but the cause remains under investigation and may take time to determine.

The stranded passengers will be transferred to a separate train rake and transported to the next station, officials said. The restoration efforts are expected to be challenging due to the hilly and rugged terrain of the Lumding-Badarpur single-line hill section, where train services have been suspended temporarily.

Following the incident, the NF Railway issued several changes in train schedules and services. The Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Special train and Rangiya-Silchar-Rangiya Express were cancelled on Thursday, along with their return services on Friday. Additionally, the Agartala-Firozpur Cantt Express has been short-terminated at Badarpur, the Sabroom-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express at Maibong, and the Dullabcherra-Guwahati Express at New Haflong.

The NF Railway bulletin further announced cancellations of the Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Special and Agartala-Guwahati Summer Special on Thursday. Services for the New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati Special, Guwahati-Agartala Summer Special, Kamakhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Special, and Silchar-Guwahati Silchar Express have been suspended on Friday.

Other modifications include rescheduling the Silchar-Thiruvananthapuram Express, initially set to depart on Thursday, to leave at 6 am on Friday. The SMVT Bengaluru-Agartala Humsafar Express, which commenced its journey on October 15, will be regulated accordingly, as per the bulletin.

Helpline numbers have been set up at Lumding for passengers and their families to receive updates and assistance regarding the situation. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing as officials work to restore train services in the affected area.

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