 |
|
On Thursday afternoon, a significant incident occurred on the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) network, causing disruption to train services and prompting emergency responses. The Mumbai-bound Lokmanya Tilak Express derailed at Dibalong station, located within the Lumding-Badarpur Hill section of the NFR's Lumding division. The incident took place around 4 PM, according to official statements.
A senior official from the NFR confirmed that two to three coaches of the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus train derailed at Dibalong station. Thankfully, there were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities. This news brought a sense of relief to passengers and officials alike.
Following the derailment, the NFR quickly activated its emergency response procedures. Helpline numbers were established at Lumding – 03674-263120 and 03674-263126 – to facilitate communication and provide support to passengers and rescue personnel.
Emergency services swiftly reached the site of the accident. An Accident Relief Train and an Accident Relief Medical Train were dispatched from Lumding to assist in the rescue and relief operations. A team of senior NFR officers was also deployed from the divisional headquarters to oversee the disaster management efforts and ensure a coordinated response.
The derailment had a cascading effect on other train services in the Lumding-Badarpur section. Several trains were halted, with some stalled mid-journey. Among the affected services were the Kanchanjunga Express and the Duronto Express, both of which were stopped at New Haflong station after news of the derailment reached them.
In light of the accident, the NFR announced the cancellation of several scheduled train services. The Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri special train and the Rangiya-Silchar-Rangiya Express, originally planned to start on Thursday, were canceled. Additionally, the New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati special train and the Silchar-Guwahati-Silchar Express train, scheduled to commence on Friday, were also canceled.
The incident sparked concern and responses from government leaders in the region. Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha reached out to NFR officials and expressed his relief at the safety of the passengers. He shared on social media that the low speed at which the train was traveling minimized the impact of the derailment and that no injuries had been reported. This information was confirmed by the NFR's General Manager.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also took to social media to address the situation. He confirmed that eight coaches of the Agartala-LTT Express (Train No. 12520) derailed at Dibalong station near Lumding at 15:55 Hrs on Thursday. He assured the public that no major casualties or injuries had been reported and that all passengers were safe. The Chief Minister indicated that coordination with railway authorities was underway and that a relief train would soon be arriving at the site. He also reiterated the helpline numbers at Lumding: 03674 263120 and 03674 263126.
The derailment serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining rail infrastructure and ensuring safety protocols are strictly adhered to. Investigations into the cause of the accident are likely to be initiated, and the incident will be thoroughly reviewed to identify any potential contributing factors and implement corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.