Assam floods suspend train services near Simaluguri as tracks go under water

Train services have been suspended in the Simaluguri area of Assam after floodwater overtopped railway tracks and entered the station yard and railway colony. The disruption follows heavy rainfall in the upstream catchment, which caused the Dikhow River to overflow and flood parts of Simaluguri town in Sibsagar district. Indian Railways said the measures were taken to protect trains and passengers as water levels remained high.

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According to the Northeast Frontier Railway, services on the Simaluguri-Namtiali and Simaluguri-Selenghat sections have been suspended until further notice. Long-distance trains from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia have been diverted via the Rangiya-Rangapara route, while several local trains have been cancelled or short-terminated. The railway's chief public relations officer said men and materials had been dispatched to the affected locations and that the situation was being monitored at the highest level.

The flooding has also affected passengers already on the move. Railway officials said food packets, drinking water and ticket refund facilities have been arranged, and help desks have been set up at stations. ASTC buses and local vehicles are being used at Namtiali to take passengers to Sibsagar Town station, where a special train has been planned for Dibrugarh and New Tinsukia.

Officials also said 217 passengers from Vivek Express were being transported by road to Mariani, while 570 passengers from Kamrup Express and 490 passengers from Amritsar Tinsukia Express were being assisted at Mariani. The disruption matters because the affected line links parts of upper Assam with a wider rail network used by both local and long-distance services. Diversions and short-terminations can affect passenger movement across a large area, especially when flood conditions make it difficult to assess damage or estimate restoration times.

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The railway said it could not yet determine when services would resume because the water level remained too high to inspect the tracks fully. Flooding is a recurring risk in Assam, where heavy monsoon rain and swollen rivers can quickly affect transport links, settlements and public services. In this case, the Dikhow River's overflow has affected not only the tracks but also the surrounding station infrastructure, underlining how rail operations in flood-prone areas depend on both weather conditions and rapid emergency response.

The response has involved the national rail operator and the Northeast Frontier Railway, which manages services in the region. What remains unclear is the extent of damage to the railway line and how long restoration work will take once water levels fall. Officials said the exact condition of the tracks can only be confirmed after the floodwater recedes.

For now, passengers are being rerouted and assisted through road transfers, refunds and special train arrangements as the situation continues to be monitored.

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