Nearly 2,500 passengers in four trains have been stranded at three places on the metre guage Assam Hill Section since Monday midnight following landslides at numerous spots that were triggered off by incessant heavy downpour in the Dima Hasao district. Officials in the Northeast Frontier Railway divisional headquarters at Lumding said so far 73 locations have been identified where landslides and uprooted trees have blocked the single railway track,while a bridge and a couple of culverts have been also washed away. The district authorities have roped in the Army and CRPF in order to provide the much-needed security and evacuation back-up in view of the presence of numerous militant outfits in Dima Hasao. While we have sent out several teams to restore the tracks and clear the debris,movement of relief materials as well as mechanical and civil workmen has been seriously affected due to incessant rainfall. The district authorities have,however,provided all help including food,water and medical teams in the four locations, Rakesh Goel,Divisional Railway Manager at Lumding,told The Indian Express over the phone.
