A major train mishap was narrowly avoided when eight coaches of the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express derailed at Dibalong station in Assam’s Lumding-Badarpur Hill section on Thursday. The train, en route from Agartala in Tripura to Mumbai, derailed at around 3:55 pm. Thankfully, no fatalities or major injuries were reported.
Officials from the Northeastern Frontier Railways (NFR) confirmed that the train was running at a slow pace, which helped avert a potential disaster. “A few coaches and the engine derailed, but there were no casualties or serious injuries,” NFR spokesperson Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said in an official statement.
Agartala–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express that left #Agartala today morning derailed at Dibalong station under Lumding division in the Lumding-Bardarpur Hill section at about 15-55 hrs.08(eight)coaches including the power car and the Engine of the train got derailed@PIB_India pic.twitter.com/XmpgkhRMqS
— PIB in Tripura (@PIBAgartala) October 17, 2024
Following the incident, accident relief trains and medical aid were swiftly dispatched to the site. Senior railway officials are overseeing rescue operations, and efforts to clear the derailed coaches are ongoing. Train services along the Lumding-Badarpur single line have been suspended until the tracks are cleared.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reassured the public in a statement, confirming that all passengers are safe. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also expressed relief, stating, “Thankfully, the train’s low speed minimized the impact.”
As the recovery efforts continue, railway authorities have issued helpline numbers—03674 263120 and 03674 263126—for inquiries. They have also arranged a separate train for stranded passengers. The derailment has caused several trains to be cancelled, rescheduled, or short-terminated.
While the cause of the derailment remains unclear, officials have launched an investigation to determine what led to the incident.
