In a severe blow to connectivity in Northeast India, a fresh and significant landslide has once again crippled the vital Lumding–Badarpur rail link of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). The incident, which occurred on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at KM 51/2-3 between Dihakho and Mupa stations in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, has led to the immediate suspension of all train services, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and impacting essential supply lines.
This latest disruption comes just days after the section had partially resumed operations on June 30, following a week-long closure due to another landslide in the Jatinga-Lampur area. The recurring nature of such incidents highlights the challenging terrain and the vulnerability of the rail link during the ongoing monsoon season.
Immediate Impact and Actions:
Northeast Frontier Railway officials have confirmed that the landslide, characterized by large boulders and significant earthfall, has completely blocked the single railway track. As a result, the following immediate actions have been taken:
Five (5) trains have been fully cancelled.
15615 Guwahati – Silchar Express (of July 3, 2025)
15611 Rangiya – Silchar Express (of July 3, 2025)
15612 Silchar – Rangiya Express (of July 3, 2025)
05628 Agartala – Guwahati Special (of July 3, 2025)
05627 Guwahati – Agartala Special (of July 4, 2025)
One (1) train has been rescheduled:
12508 Silchar – Thiruvananthapuram Central Express (of July 3, 2025) will now depart Silchar at 08:00 hrs on July 4, 2025.
The 15616 Silchar–Guwahati Express, which was approaching the affected section, was halted by an alert watchman and loco pilot. The train safely backed up to Mupa station and is currently returning.
The Vairabi Guwahati Express (likely referring to a service connecting to Vairabi and then Guwahati) is also returning from its journey.
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) has announced that passengers of the cancelled Silchar–Guwahati Express will be provided full refunds.
Several other trains are being partially cancelled or regulated (held back) at various stations. These include:
15618 Dullabcherra – Guwahati Express (of July 3, 2025) will run only up to New Haflong and terminate there (partially cancelled between New Haflong and Guwahati).
13174 Sabroom–Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express (of July 3, 2025) will return to New Haflong and be held.
12520 Agartala–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express (of July 3, 2025) regulated at New Haflong.
14619 Agartala–Firozpur Cantt. Tripura Sundari Express (of July 3, 2025) returning to Agartala from Dharmanagar.
13173 Sealdah–Sabroom Kanchanjunga Express (of July 3, 2025) regulated at Lumding.
20502 Anand Vihar (T)–Agartala Tejas Rajdhani (of July 2, 2025) regulated at Guwahati.
12503 SMVT Bengaluru – Agartala Express (of July 1, 2025) regulated at Guwahati.
Restoration Efforts Underway:
Railway engineers and teams are on-site, working “round the clock” to clear the massive debris. Heavy machinery, including JCBs and excavators, has been deployed. However, the presence of large boulders and the ongoing risk of small rockfalls are making the restoration process challenging. An exact timeline for the full resumption of services remains uncertain given the scale of the damage.
Passenger Advisory:
NFR has activated help desks at major stations, including Guwahati, Lumding, Silchar, Badarpur, and Agartala, to assist affected passengers with information and alternatives. Passengers are strongly advised to:
Check the latest updates through official NFR communication channels (website, social media).
Contact station help desks before planning any journey through this section.
The Lumding–Badarpur rail link serves as a crucial lifeline, connecting South Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram with the rest of the country via Guwahati. Its frequent disruptions during the monsoon season underscore the urgent need for long-term geological surveys and robust mitigation measures to ensure reliable connectivity in the region. The railway authorities are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as restoration work progresses.
