Geo-Textile Bags Deployed to Stabilise Railway Track at New Harangajao

 Haflong, August 12: With repeated landslides and soil erosion affecting the Lumding-Badarpur hill railway section near New Harangajao, railway authorities have brought in around 1,000 geo-textile bags to help retain soil and stabilise vulnerable portions of the track.

The measure is being taken as part of ongoing efforts to restore stability to the railway infrastructure, which has suffered extensive damage due to persistent monsoon rain and landslides in the area.

Several portions of the railway formation near New Harangajao have been affected by soil erosion. In some places, the earth beneath the tracks has been washed away, while mud, rocks and debris from the hillside have repeatedly fallen onto the railway line.

The Northeast Frontier Railway has deployed heavy machinery to remove debris, carry out earth filling, place boulders and strengthen vulnerable sections. The use of geo-textile bags has now been added as an additional preventive measure.

According to railway sources, the bags will be placed in erosion-prone areas after being filled with soil, sand or other suitable material. They can be stacked in layers to hold loose earth and reduce the direct impact of rainwater on vulnerable slopes and railway formations.

The measure is particularly useful during the monsoon when permanent concrete structures cannot be constructed immediately. Railway officials hope the geo-textile bags will provide temporary reinforcement to weakened sections while more permanent stabilisation work continues.

The situation at New Harangajao has already disrupted train operations. Both Line No. 1 and Line No. 2 have been affected by soil settlement, while limited train movement has been maintained through Line No. 3, subject to safety conditions.

Over the past several weeks, railway personnel have removed large quantities of soil and rocks and carried out repeated earth-filling operations. Large boulders have also been placed at vulnerable points to prevent further erosion. Drainage measures are being undertaken at locations where runoff from the hills has contributed to soil erosion.

However, continuing rainfall has made the restoration work difficult. In several instances, freshly repaired portions have again been affected by soil movement, forcing railway personnel to undertake repeated repairs.

Local residents said the New Harangajao stretch has long remained highly vulnerable during the monsoon because of its steep slopes, loose soil and heavy rainfall. They stressed that besides immediate repairs, long-term measures such as improved drainage, slope protection and strengthening of the railway formation would be necessary to address the problem permanently.

Railway authorities have maintained that passenger safety remains the top priority and that the affected sections are being monitored continuously. Train speeds and movement are being regulated wherever necessary depending on weather and ground conditions.

The Lumding-Badarpur hill section is a crucial railway link connecting the Barak Valley and the hill districts of Assam. Prolonged disruption at New Harangajao therefore has implications for passenger and freight services across the region, with several trains having already faced cancellations, regulation or rescheduling due to the continuing problem.

With around 1,000 geo-textile bags now available at the site, railway officials are expected to use them at vulnerable locations as work progresses. Whether the temporary reinforcement can withstand further heavy rainfall, however, will depend largely on the intensity of the remaining monsoon.