In yet another grim reminder of India’s growing rail safety concerns, eight coaches of the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) Express derailed near Assam’s Dibalong station, sparking fresh debates over the spate of accidents haunting the nation’s railway network. This latest incident, occurring at 4 PM on Thursday, left passengers shaken but miraculously unharmed, as confirmed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Taking swift action, CM Sarma announced on X (formerly Twitter), “There has been no major casualty or injury, and all passengers are safe. Relief trains are en route, and railway authorities are coordinating efforts.”
While the derailment caused significant disruption on the Lumding-Badarpur Hill section, rail officials were quick to respond. Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway, visited the site to oversee the situation, promising that restoration efforts would conclude by Saturday morning.
But this accident is not an isolated event. Train derailments and mishaps are becoming a disturbing trend across India, with each incident underscoring the vulnerabilities in the country’s railway infrastructure. Despite promises of modernization and safety upgrades, these accidents expose systemic gaps that jeopardize the safety of millions.
As passengers breathe a sigh of relief in the wake of this derailment, questions loom larger than ever: How many more close calls will it take before the authorities address the rising number of rail accidents? With lives at stake, the need for action has never been more urgent.
