The locomotive of the Silchar-Guwahati Express derailed near Badarpur in Assam on Thursday morning, October 29. No casualties or injuries were reported, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said in a press release.

Source: Northeast Frontier Railway via News Desk Report

According to the NFR, the incident occurred at around 8:50 am when the front trolley of the locomotive of train number 15616 (Silchar-Guwahati Express) derailed at kilometre 166/7 between Badarpur and Sukritipur stations on the Lumding-Badarpur hill section. The rear portion of the train, along with all passenger coaches, was pushed back to Badarpur, and all passengers are safe.

Assam outlet DY365, reporting from the spot, said the engine came off the rails on a bridge near Badarpur, the coaches stayed upright, and train services between Badarpur and Guwahati were suspended while crews worked to clear the track. It said the cause of the derailment has not been announced.

Source: DY365

Trains cancelled and regulated

Train 15616, which had begun its journey from Silchar on Thursday, was short-terminated at Badarpur and remained cancelled between Badarpur and Guwahati. Train 15615 (Guwahati-Silchar Express), scheduled to start its journey on Thursday, was also cancelled, the NFR said.

Several other trains on the section were regulated en route, including the Sealdah-Silchar Express, the Sairang-Kolkata Express, the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express, the Agartala-Sealdah Express and the Kolkata-Sairang Express, which were controlled at different stations along their routes.

Restoration under way

Restoration work is under way under the supervision of senior railway officials. The Badarpur-Lumding line is the rail lifeline linking Assam's Barak Valley, including Silchar, with Guwahati and the rest of the country, so disruption on the section quickly affects passengers across the region. Travellers have been advised to check official railway channels for updates, and further updates are awaited as restoration continues.