Silchar to Guwahati Train Services Disrupted Again, Barak Valley Left Stranded

Once again, train services between Silchar and Guwahati have been halted, leaving the residents of Barak Valley stranded from the rest of Assam and India. Following recent thunderstorms, the N.F. Railway announced the cancellation of several trains for track safety works.

In a press release issued on April 30, it was stated that train movement between Jatinga Lampur and New Harangajao stations, under Lumding division, would be restricted from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Additionally, a traffic block between the same stations from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on May 01 was scheduled, leading to the cancellation, regulation, and rescheduling of various trains.

Among the cancelled trains are:
– Guwahati – Silchar Express (Train no. 15615)
– Silchar – Guwahati Express (Train no. 15616)
– Guwahati – Dullabcherra Express (Train no. 15617)
– Dullabcherra – Guwahati Express (Train no. 15618)
– Guwahati – Badarpur Tourist Express (Train no. 15888)
– Badarpur – Guwahati Tourist Express (Train no. 15887), all scheduled for April 30, 2024.

One train, the Sealdah – Agartala Kanchunjunga Express (Train no. 13173), commencing its journey on April 30, 2024, will be regulated for 4 hours between Guwahati and Lumding. Additionally, two trains have been rescheduled: the Agartala – Kolkata Express (Train no. 02502), scheduled for May 01, 2024, will now depart at 08:35 hours instead of 07:35 hours, and the Silchar – Secunderabad Express (Train no. 12514), also scheduled for May 01, 2024, will now depart at 23:50 hours instead of 19:50 hours.

This should be noted that the cancellation of the Guwahati – Silchar Express, which is heavily relied upon by residents of Barak Valley to travel to the heart of the state, has left many questioning the sudden surge in airline ticket prices. With rail services disrupted, air travel has become the only alternative, leading to exorbitant ticket costs ranging from Rs. 9000 to Rs. 16000.

This situation has reignited a long-standing debate among Barak Valley residents regarding neglect and unequal treatment during times of crisis. Similar circumstances were witnessed during the 2022 floods, when rail connections were severed, resulting in inflated airline ticket prices.

As the people of Silchar grapple with the disruption, they are urged to reschedule or adjust their travel plans accordingly, particularly if reliant on rail transport to exit the valley.