Rail and road connectivity in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has come to a standstill after a massive landslide struck the Jatinga-Lampur area, severely affecting routes between Haflong and Silchar. Triggered by ongoing road repair work, the landslide led to the suspension of train services along the crucial Lumding-Badarpur hill section and blocked vehicular traffic on National Highway 27. Services to Tripura, Manipur, and southern Assam remain suspended, causing major disruption to travel and goods movement across the region.
Train Operations Suspended, Multiple Services Affected
According to officials, the landslide occurred due to slope failure during road repairs being carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Soil and debris slid downhill, damaging both the highway and the adjacent railway track. Water has also begun flowing directly onto the railway line, making the section unsafe for train operations. As a precaution, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) halted all train movements on this route starting Monday evening.
In response, the Lumding Division of NFR has urged NHAI to take immediate protective measures and deploy technical teams to prevent further erosion and safeguard vital infrastructure. Meanwhile, railway personnel have started clearing debris from the tracks, but restoration is expected to take time. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
The disruption has led to widespread cancellation and short-termination of several trains. Cancelled services for June 23 include the Guwahati-Silchar Express, Rangiya-Silchar Express, Guwahati-Dullabcherra Express, and Silchar-Rangiya Express. For June 24, the Dullabcherra-Guwahati Express and Naharlagun-Silchar Special have also been cancelled.
Trains short-terminated due to the situation include:
- Silchar-Naharlagun Special at New Harangajao
- Charlapalli-Silchar Express at Lumding
- Kolkata-Agartala Garib Rath Express at Guwahati
- Agartala-Anand Vihar Tejas Express at Badarpur
- Lokmanya Tilak-Agartala Express at Guwahati
- Sealdah-Silchar Kanchanjungha Express at Lumding
- NH-27 Shut Down, Travel Ban Imposed by Authorities
In view of the ongoing risk, the Dima Hasao district administration has invoked Section 34(C) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and imposed a travel ban along the Haflong-Silchar section of NH-27. Authorities have urged commuters and transporters to avoid the route until further notice due to the danger posed by potential further slope movement and instability.
Both the NHAI and railway departments have been instructed to send technical teams for site evaluation and immediate stabilization efforts. While debris removal and damage control measures are in progress, there is no official word yet on when normal traffic and train operations will resume. Travellers planning to use this route have been advised to make alternate arrangements.
