Assam Nears 80percent Restoration of Lumding Badarpur Rail Line
Assam is on the brink of restoring full rail connectivity through the Lumding-Badarpur hill section, with 80% of the repair work completed following a series of massive earth slips triggered by recent heavy rainfall. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has mobilised large-scale resources to stabilise the damaged terrain and aims to resume full train operations by Sunday, weather permitting.
The landslides, which had severely impacted a strategic stretch of the hill section, prompted the suspension of services and emergency response mobilisation. In an effort to expedite recovery, NFR officials visited the site on Friday to personally oversee progress and issue on-the-spot directives for accelerating the restoration timeline. “There is no rain today, which has helped us speed up the efforts. About 80% of the restoration work is already completed, and we are hopeful that full operations will resume by Sunday,” officials said.
According to Sharma, the most pressing challenge was clearing the enormous volume of debris and stabilising the vulnerable slopes that flank the tracks. He confirmed that railway teams have successfully removed over 1,27,000 cubic metres of slipped earth, a significant milestone considering the topographical and climatic challenges in the region. The Lumding-Badarpur section, nestled in the steep terrain of Assam’s Dima Hasao district, is a lifeline for both passenger and freight movement across northeast India. It serves as a crucial link for states such as Tripura, Mizoram, and parts of southern Assam, and its disruption caused cascading logistical challenges, including for essential commodities and daily commuters.
The vulnerability of the section stems from its fragile soil structure and steep gradients, which make it susceptible to monsoon-triggered landslides and washouts. Railway officials noted that the terrain’s complex geology requires continuous slope monitoring, especially during the monsoon season. In response to this year’s landslide, NFR deployed an enhanced team of engineers, geologists, disaster management personnel, and heavy machinery, working around the clock to clear tracks, compact soil, and resecure embankments. In addition, drainage systems have been reinforced to prevent future runoff erosion, which has been one of the key causes of previous earth slips.
The railway authority’s restoration efforts also include implementing geo-meshing and soil nailing techniques—modern methods aimed at reinforcing slope stability. These measures are expected to provide longer-term resilience to landslide-prone rail sections in the Northeast. This year’s disruption echoed a similar incident in 2022, when landslides in the region led to a weeks-long closure of the same section, drawing attention to the urgent need for climate-resilient railway infrastructure in the Northeast. “Every year, the monsoon reminds us of the geographic sensitivity of this region. We are now working on long-term strategies for early warning systems and permanent slope fortification,” an official said.
The Ministry of Railways, in its zonal planning for the Northeast, has already marked the Lumding-Badarpur belt as a priority corridor for climate adaptation funding, which will include weather-resistant designs, improved drainage, and strategic deforestation prevention along the embankments. In the short term, the current priority remains clear: clear the remaining 20% of debris, complete track testing, and ensure safety verification for a green signal to resume rail traffic.
As railway crews work into the weekend under improved weather conditions, thousands of passengers and supply-chain operators across Assam and the northeast await the reopening of this key rail artery—proof that even in India’s most remote terrains, resilience remains on track.
