Amidst the disruption of train services in a few northeastern states for the past 17 days due to landslides in the hill section of Assam causing crisis of transport fuel and essential goods, two freight trains, carrying petrol and diesel, arrived in Tripura and Silchar (Assam) on Saturday from Guwahati giving a great relief to the people.

Northeast Frontier Railway’s (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi De said that two freight trains, each consisting of 50 wagons, carrying petrol and diesel, have safely crossed the risky Jatinga Lumpur-New Harangajao section of Assam’s Dima Hasao district during noon.

Other railway and state government officials said that arrival of petrol and diesel in Tripura and southern Assam would lessen the crisis of transport fuel in southern Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram. 

According to the NFR officials, passenger and goods train services have been affected in the region since April 25 owing to heavy landslides causing damage to railway tracks in the Jatinga Lumpur-New Harangajao section under Lumding division after heavy rains lashed the mountainous Dima Hasao district, which is a connecting route to southern Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram.

Hundreds of workers and technicians, led by railway engineers, are working round-the-clock to restore the train services in the mountainous areas.

Considering the weak railway tracks and soil in the region, the NFR is now operating limited number trains only in the daytime on the hilly route and regulated long distance and express trains.

According to the officials, the stocks of fuel -- petrol and diesel – and other essential goods in southern Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, and parts of Manipur are not adequate due to the restrictions on the movement of goods trains.

Officials said that Tripura Chief Minister Saha earlier this week had written to the Railway Minister, requesting him to expedite the resumption of passenger and goods train services.

“The Chief Minister is personally monitoring the situation. He has asked the state officials to maintain close contact with the NFR engineers and officials to know the progress of the ongoing work,” an official said.