Rail link between Assam, Tripura snaps

AGARTALA, July 9 : Due to a massive landslip on the railway line between Bandarkhal and Damcherra about 75 kilometres from Badarpur, rail link between Tripura and Assam has been snapped. The two-kilometre stretch of railway line between Bandarkhal and Damcherra was washed away by the sliding mud and rocks from the adjoining hills early Sunday morning. ?It would take at least three weeks to restore the railway link between Tripura and Assam,? sources said. Though restoration works have started from both sides, but due to incessant rainfall for the past two days, works could only progress at a slow pace. Senior Railway officials, including Divisional Railway Manager (Lumding), Senior Operations Manager, Senior Divisional Engineer and other officials, have rushed to the spot to supervise the restoration works. As a result of the landslip, NFR has cancelled the Up/Dn Barak Valley Express, Cachar Express and restricted the Tripura Passenger. All the three trains originate from Lumding. The Tripura Passenger between Lumding and Kumarghat will run between Badarpur and Kumarghat. However, the Silchar - Kumarghat Passenger will run as per schedule. Due to the massive landslide, movement of foodgrain between Lumding and Barak Valley have also come to a standstill. As a result of this, prices of essential commodities have soared up in the markets of Tripura.