20,000+ Cubic Meters of Debris Being Cleared as NFR Battles Terrain to Restore Hill Route

In a determined bid to restore crucial connectivity in the rain-battered Lumding–Badarpur Hill Section, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is racing against time to clear massive debris and stabilize vulnerable slopes following multiple earth slips caused by relentless heavy rainfall.

The affected location, between KM 108/6-8, has seen unprecedented damage due to landslides, hampering train services through this vital hill corridor connecting the Barak Valley and Tripura with the rest of Assam and the country. Amid the challenging circumstances, NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava made a high-level inspection visit to the site, reinforcing the Railway’s unwavering commitment to swift restoration.

Shrivastava personally reviewed the restoration progress, interacted with ground teams, and issued clear instructions to deploy maximum manpower and machinery. His presence on the ground not only served to monitor the operations but also boosted the morale of hundreds of field personnel battling adverse conditions.

Herculean Earth-Clearing Operation Underway

As part of the mammoth restoration exercise, NFR teams have already removed over 14,100 cubic meters of slipped earth from the hillslopes near the track area, against a total target of 20,000 cubic meters. Another 2,850 cubic meters of debris has been cleared from the track itself out of a targeted 3,000 cubic meters. Furthermore, an astonishing 1.27 lakh cubic meters of soil has been removed from surrounding vulnerable hill slopes to prevent further slips.

To ensure long-term slope stability, teams have completed jungle cutting across 12,000 square meters, while 1,200 square meters of hill slope have been fortified using non-woven geotextile material. Drainage improvement is also underway with 600 meters of new kutcha drains being built and 400 meters of existing hillside drains cleaned to improve water runoff.

Machines, Manpower, and Grit

The restoration effort is being powered by a large contingent of workers and heavy equipment, including eight excavators working in tandem along a treacherous 800-meter stretch of slippery, narrow hillside road. While much of the machine work has been completed on the tracks, inaccessible cutting zones are now being cleared manually due to logistical constraints.

Despite the steep terrain and unpredictable weather, workers are pressing on with unwavering focus. "The terrain is extremely challenging, but our teams are committed to restoring services as quickly and safely as possible," an NFR official on-site said.

Train Services Affected: Cancellations and Partial Cancellations Announced

As restoration continues on a war footing, several trains have been cancelled or partially cancelled for the safety of passengers.

Full Train Cancellations:

• June 27, 2025:

  • Train No. 15615 (Guwahati – Silchar Express)

  • Train Nos. 15611/15612 (Rangiya – Silchar – Rangiya Express)

• June 28, 2025:

  • Train No. 15616 (Silchar – Guwahati Express)

  • Train Nos. 15888/15887 (Guwahati – Badarpur – Guwahati Tourist Express)

  • Train No. 15641 (Silchar – New Tinsukia Express)

• June 29, 2025:

  • Train No. 15642 (New Tinsukia – Silchar Express)

Partial Cancellations:

• June 26, 2025:

  • Train No. 01665 (Rani Kamalapati – Agartala Special) – Short terminated at Guwahati; cancelled between Guwahati and Agartala

• June 27, 2025:

  • Train No. 13173 (Sealdah – Sabroom Kanchanjunga Express) – Short terminated at Lumding; cancelled between Lumding and Sabroom

• June 28, 2025:

  • Train No. 13174 (Sabroom – Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express) – Short originated from Lumding; cancelled between Sabroom and Lumding

  • Train No. 12504 (Agartala – SMVT Bengaluru Humsafar Express) – Short originated from Kamakhya; cancelled between Agartala and Kamakhya

Appeal to Passengers

NFR has urged passengers to stay updated on train schedules and cancellations through official railway communication channels. Safety and operational readiness remain top priorities, and all efforts are being made to resume services at the earliest possible time.

"Despite the challenging logistics, our commitment to restoring normalcy is unwavering," said the NFR General Manager during his inspection, highlighting the round-the-clock operations underway in one of the region’s most critical rail corridors.

Also Read: Assam Landslide Cripples Rail Line; NFR Races to Restore Lumding-Badarpur Track