A train derailment occurred in Assam on Thursday, October 18, 2024, involving the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express. Eight carriages of the train, which was en route from Agartala, Tripura to Mumbai, came off the tracks near Dibalong station. Thankfully, there were no reported fatalities or significant injuries.
The incident took place around 3:55 PM in the Lumding – Badarpur Hill section of the Lumding division. Train number 12520, which had departed Agartala that morning, derailed while traveling on the single-track section.
Following the incident, Northeastern Frontier Railways officials swiftly dispatched an accident relief train and a medical relief train to the scene. Senior railway personnel were also immediately deployed to oversee the emergency response and track clearance efforts. Operations on the affected Lumding – Badarpur section have been halted until the derailed coaches can be cleared and the track is deemed safe for travel.
Early reports suggest that the train’s relatively slow speed at the time of the derailment likely prevented a more severe outcome. This emphasizes the importance of adhering to safety protocols and ensuring proper track maintenance to prevent such incidents.
Both Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Tripura’s Chief Minister, Manik Saha, took to X (formerly Twitter) to reassure the public about the safety of passengers and the ongoing efforts to address the situation.
This derailment comes on the heels of another recent rail incident in Tamil Nadu on October 11, 2024. In that incident, 12 coaches of a long-distance express train derailed near Chennai, striking a stationary goods train. Thankfully, there were no casualties in that incident either. The incident highlighted the importance of stringent safety procedures and continuous monitoring to ensure the safety of railway operations.
The derailment in Assam serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing efforts to improve railway infrastructure and safety measures. With the focus on passenger safety and swift resolution of such incidents, the authorities are working tirelessly to restore normal train operations and prevent future occurrences.