The Lumding-Silchar line passes for over 100 km through hilly terrain with unstable slopes in fragile geology. (Representational image)
Passengers travelling on the Poorvattar Sampark Kranti Express from Silchar to Delhi had a providential escape, for the second time in two days, when the train they were traveling in ploughed into fallen debris from a landslide.
One of the coaches derailed and the rest stayed on track because it was traveling at a slow speed, officials said. According to sources, the accident happened on Monday night about 17 km north of New Haflong Station. A part of the hill had collapsed and obstructed the line.
Tragedy was averted for the second time in barely two days when the same train in its journey from Delhi to Silchar had also hit a landslide.
At that time, the engine of the train had derailed.
Heavy rainfall in the area has made some of the slopes unstable and that has led to landslides, local reports said.
The Lumding-Silchar line passes for over 100 km through hilly terrain with unstable slopes in fragile geology. While the Silchar line was upgraded last year from meter to broad gauge, passenger traffic was restricted for some months due to concerns over safety.
A report by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) Sudarshan Naik in July last year had raised concerns about the safety of the diversion section in the Dima Haso district along the route. Even earlier, these areas have seen a large number of landslides during the construction phase which lasted from 2001 to 2015.