Early floods, landslides leave railway tracks hanging in Assam
Floods is an every year phenomenon in Assam, but this year the north-eastern state faced the annual calamity well before the monsoon began.
Several cases of flooding and landslides have occurred, causing loss to life and property. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Assam is bound to get more rains in the next few days.
At least three people were killed in landslides in Dima Hasao district of the state.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) told on Saturday (May 14) that three persons, including a woman, lost their lives in Haflong revenue circle of Dima Hasao. The hill district has been ravaged by flash floods and massive landslides at several places, snapping rail and road links from other parts of the state.
ASDMA said that landslides have been reported from New Kunjung, Fiangpui, Moulhoi, Namzeurang, South Bagetar, Mahadev Tilla, Kalibari, North Bagetar, Zion and Lodi Pangmoul villages, where around 80 houses were severely affected.
“Railway line at Jatinga-Harangajao and Mahur-Phaiding was blocked due to landslides. Before reaching Maibang tunnel at Geremlambra village, road is likely to be blocked due to landslides,” it added.
Nearly 25,000 people are affected by floods across five districts in Assam. The worst-hit is Cachar with over 21,000 people affected, followed by Karbi Anglong West with nearly 2,000 victims and Dhemaji with more than 600 persons hit by the deluge.
At least 227 people are taking shelter in 10 relief camps and distribution centres set up across two districts.
Nearly 2,200 people were rescued by the Army, paramilitary forces, Fire and Emergency Services, SDRF, civil administration and trained volunteers from Cachar and Hojai districts.
Incidents of massive waterlogging have been reported from various parts of Guwahati.
The ASDMA has issued flood alert for Cachar, Karimganj, Dhemaji, Morigaon and Nagaon districts for the next 12-72 hours.
The Army and Air Force were pressed into service for airlifting about 100 odd elderly rail passengers stranded in the hilly terrain in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, where a landslide brought rail connectivity to a grinding halt on Saturday (May 14).
Two trains with about 1400 passengers each got stranded at the New Haflong and Ditokcherra stations. After 48 hours long evacuation operation, the Railways along with the help of the Air Force, NDRF, Assam Rifles and local people have finally rescued all passengers.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is yet to ascertain the extent of damage. However, pictures show that the New Haflong station has been completely submerged in water and debris from the landslide.
The inclement weather and incessant monsoon rain led to cause landslides and waterlogging at several locations in the Lumding – Badarpur hill section of the Lumding Division of Northeast Frontier Railway.
Chief Public Relations Officer of Railways, Sabyasachi De said, “We have identified 26 critical locations in the Lumding Division. Near New Haflong a 50-metre railway track is hanging in the air and underneath it, 70-80 metres of land has slit across. We have rescued around 2,200 passengers. About 400 passengers managed to leave on their own before the situation at the New Haflong station became even more dangerous.”
“The tracks of that section are inundated with debris and slit water and coaches of the stranded trains have capsized due to the landslide. We are yet to ascertain the losses and landslides are continuously happening and damages are ongoing,” he added.
