: Train Derailment in Assam: Silchar-Guwahati Express Engine Off the Tracks in Dima Hasao

DIMA HASAO, India — Panic spread among passengers on Thursday, October 29, 2026 after the locomotive of the Silchar-Guwahati Express derailed in Assam’s hilly Dima Hasao district, disrupting rail operations along the vital passenger corridor.

The incident occurred during the early hours as the passenger train was navigating the mountainous terrain between Silchar and Guwahati.

According to Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials, only the locomotive engine jumped the tracks, while all attached passenger coaches remained upright on the rails.

Engineers and train crews acted swiftly to bring the train to a complete halt, preventing any secondary impacts or catastrophic damage in the difficult section of the route.

Initial inspections confirmed that no casualties or major injuries were reported among passengers or onboard crew members. Following the derailment, onboard staff alerted nearby control stations immediately to halt oncoming traffic along the single-line track section.

Relief trains equipped with heavy cranes and technical personnel were dispatched from nearby railway divisions to the derailment site in Dima Hasao.

Railway workers began operations to rerail the engine, clear the damaged section of track, and inspect the structural integrity of the line before resuming regular service.

"The engine of the train derailed, but fortunately, all passenger coaches remained safe on the track. Priority rescue and rerailing operations were initiated immediately," stated a railway official during an operational update.

The derailment caused temporary delays and line rerouting for several regional and long-distance passenger services across the Lumding–Badarpur hill corridor. This vital rail corridor serves as a key transit link connecting southern Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram with the rest of the country.

A formal inquiry has been ordered by railway safety authorities to determine the exact cause of the derailment, focusing on track conditions, potential mechanical faults, or environmental factors such as soil instability along the hill slopes.