Assam flood: Railways, Army construct causeway in Dima Hasao’s Maibang

Silchar: In a bid to expedite the process of restoring railway connectivity as early as possible, the Railway department along with the assistance of the Indian Army has constructed a causeway at Maibang in Assam’s Dima Hasao district.

The causeway will enable necessary materials, machinery as well as railway workers to reach the areas for repair work of the damaged railway lines due to floods.

Notably, railway connectivity in Dima Hasao was disrupted following heavy rainfall-triggered landslides and mudslides earlier this month. Even though the weather has improved a lot over the past several days, the railway authorities were unable to send workers and machinery to various sites where the railway tracks had been damaged because of poor road conditions.

Notably, railway connectivity in Dima Hasao was disrupted following heavy rainfall-triggered landslides and mudslides earlier this month. Even though the weather has improved a lot over the past several days, the railway authorities were unable to send workers and machinery to various sites where the railway tracks had been damaged because of poor road conditions.

A senior official of the Indian Army, posted in Dima Hasao, told EastMojo on Friday that the Railway department had approached the Indian Army and sought help to repair the damaged railway tracks between Lumding and Haflong.

As part of this, the causeway has been built in Maibang over the Mahur river, and the objective of the work was to enable construction materials, equipment and workers to reach various sites where railway routes have been ravaged because of landslips and mudslides, he said.

He said the construction, which was started around a week ago, has been completed, and the railway teams have reached their intended work sites. This timely assistance from the Army enabled railway authorities to commence their urgent restoration tasks of damaged railway lines, he added.

Sources said the Indian Army sappers wrapped up the construction at a good pace despite various geomorphic problems. “The causeway is being strengthened with steel gabions, railroad ties, and other materials, and excavators have been pressed into service to keep the route free from mud and debris. Furthermore, extensive earthwork has been done using army bulldozers to divert the river channel away from the causeway, thereby ensuring its longevity even during peak monsoons,” the sources said.

It may be mentioned that as per the Northeast Frontier Railway, floods and landslides caused due to torrential rainfall have damaged the railway network at 60 locations in Dima Hasao.

NF Railway’s Chief Public Relations officer has said that work to repair the damaged rail routes is underway and rail connectivity through the Dima Hasao district is likely to be restored by July 10 if the monsoon does not play spoilsport.

A weather bulletin issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati on Friday said Dima Hasao is likely to witness widespread and scattered rainfall and thundershowers at least till May 31.

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