Haflong : Restoration work on the Haflong-Silchar road and the Lumding Badarpur railway section is underway on a war footing following a massive landslide near Jatinga Lampur railway station in Dima Hasao district that disrupted both road and rail connectivity.

The landslide, triggered by incessant rainfall, caused a section of NH 27 to subside, burying the railway tracks beneath debris and blocking the arterial route critical for inter-state transport.

Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Lumding, Samir Lohani, inspected the site on Wednesday and reported that approximately 50,000 cubic metres of earth had slipped from an adjoining hillside.

He informed that ten excavators have been deployed to clear the debris, and an additional twenty are expected to join the operation shortly. Authorities are aiming to restore the railway line by Sunday, 29th June.

While railway officials remain optimistic about meeting the deadline, independent experts caution that the severity of the damage could delay full restoration.

Meanwhile, officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are assessing the situation to identify a viable alternative route for vehicular movement. However, no definite timeline has been provided for the resumption of road traffic.

In the interim, many commuters are being forced to traverse the landslide-hit zone on foot to reach their destinations. Alarmingly, reports have surfaced of transport operators exploiting the crisis charging passengers up to five times the normal fare.

Over several hundred trucks remain stranded on both sides of the disruption, awaiting clearance. This corridor serves as a lifeline for essential supplies including food and fuel destined for Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and the Barak Valley region, underscoring the urgent need for restoration.

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