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NE rail link still cut off

By STAFF Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 17 - Even as rail link between the Northeast and rest of the country remained snapped for the fifth consecutive day today, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) today said it has started restoration work at many locations.

�While the overall flood situation continues to be grim in most parts of Bihar and railway track remains breached in many locations, NFR has started restoration work in all the locations on a war footing,� Pranav Jyoti Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of NFR said. However, train services will remain suspended till at least August 20.

�In Alipurduar Division track connection from Fakiragram to Dhubri has been restored from this morning after completion of work at Bridge No. 28. Train connection from Dhubri will be restored and DEMU services will be started from tomorrow. In Lumding Division also the flood affected track between Silghat and Jakhalabandha stations has been attended and restored for movement of traffic at restricted speed,� he said. A health camp was conducted at the Guwahati station today for passengers waiting due to cancellation of services.

�We are running special trains from Guwahati to Dalkhola and from Dibrugarh to Guwahati for clearance of rush caused by cancellation of trains due to the unprecedented flood,� said the NFR CPRO.

He said that at Bridge No. 3, located between Kuretha and Manian stations in the Katihar-Kumedpur section which was breached yesterday morning, workers have been able to mobilize a 45 feet girder along with a 140 tonne crane which has reached site from Eastern Railway.

�Boulders for restoration have been mobilized from Pakur, Bakudi and Sakrigli. This bridge, which is crucial for connectivity from Katihar to Malda, is being attended by more than 600 labourers working round the clock and it is expected that if flood condition does not deteriorate further the bridge will be restored by tomorrow,� Sharma said.

Similar exercises are also under way at Bridge No. 133 which is located in the New Jalpaiguri-Malda section, at bridges No. MK 8, 9 and 11 located in the Malda Town-New Jalpaiguri section, and in the rail track between Forbeshganj and Jogbani stations.

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