Rail link disruption triggers scarcity scare in Northeastern region

GUWAHATI/AGARTALA/AIZAWL: Apprehension on availability of essential commodities, transportation fuel and vegetables has gripped the people of certain parts of the Northeastern region as the solitary railway line through Assam's Dima Hasao district, connecting Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and southern Assam, remain snapped for the last five days following heavy landslides triggered by incessant rains.

Authorities in Tripura, Mizoram and southern Assam, however, said that there are sufficient stocks of essential commodities and fuel and if anyone or any trader tries to do illegal hoarding or increase the prices, the government would take action against them.

The situation in the hill section of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) at Halflong and nearby areas in the Dima Hasao district remained critical on Wednesday, as rain continued to batter the mountainous region, affecting the Lumding-Badarpur single line railway route.

"Out of the 56 affected locations, in around 12 locations restoration work have been completed but the work in major affected areas yet to start due to the inclement weather," an official said over phone from the NFR headquarters in Maligaon.

NFR officials said that uninterrupted rains coupled with the difficult terrain severely affected the restoration and repair work, which might take several weeks.

The Lumding-Badarpur section in Assam is the only rail route to connect Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and the southern part of Assam with the rest of the country.

This rail link has been cut off since May 14.

The Tripura Food and Civil Supplies Department director Tapan Kumar Das said that though there are enough stocks of fuel, providing petrol in limited quantities has been started from Tuesday.

"Essentials, transport fuel and other basic items would be transported by road via Assam and Meghalaya. We are in touch with the Assam and Meghalaya Governments," Das said.

In Silchar, BJP's Lok Sabha Member Rajdeep Roy, MLA Dipayan Chakraborty and Cachar district Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli in a joint media briefing urged the people not to panic as the administration is striving its best to ensure supply of essential commodities and fuel.

They informed that all departments concerned are working round-the-clock so that the flood situation can be tackled well.

Meanwhile, in view of the disruptions of the railway lines, the fares of different flights operated between Mizoram, Tripura and southern Assam increased to at least three times from the normal rate of fare, severely affecting the people bound for Kolkata, Delhi and other cities in India by air. (IANS)

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