NEW DELHI : Heavy rain and riverbank erosion damaged a railway bridge pier in Assam’s Dhemaji district, forcing the Northeast Frontier Railway to suspend train movement on the Murkongselek-Silapathar section until further notice.

The disruption came as floods worsened in Dhemaji, where nearly 16,000 people across 69 villages in four revenue circles have been affected. No train was damaged and no injuries were reported because train movement had already been halted due to the flood situation.

Railway officials said trains on the route would be short-terminated and short-originated from Silapathar. Buses have been arranged to move passengers between Murkongselek and Silapathar, and help desks have been opened at Dhemaji, Silapathar and Murkongselek stations.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government was mobilising resources for immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation.

He directed Water Resources Minister Susanta Borgohain and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta to stay in Dhemaji and supervise rescue and relief operations.

The latest disruption adds to a wider flood and landslide crisis across the Northeast. In Arunachal Pradesh, flash floods and landslides earlier this month cut road links, forced helicopter evacuations and left four people missing in Keyi Panyor district.

The IMD has warned that heavy rain is likely to continue over parts of the region, keeping rescue teams, district administrations, NDRF, SDRF and fire services on alert for further flooding, landslides and transport disruption. (Source: PTI)