Flood damages 13km railway tracks in eastern region

Train services in the eastern part of the railway network were halted for four days after extensive flooding submerged around 56 kilometres of railway tracks across various routes. 

Of the submerged tracks, 13 kilometres were severely damaged. The worst-affected area was the 7-kilometre stretch from Fazilpur to Feni on the Chattogram-Dhaka route.

One of the two tracks on this stretch has been destroyed, according to railway officials.

The floods, which began on 22 August, severely impacted the Chattogram-Dhaka, Chattogram-Nazirhat, Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar, and Laksam-Noakhali railway lines. 

The Divisional Engineering Office of Railway Eastern Region reported that, in total, 56 kilometres of railway tracks were submerged, with approximately 13 kilometres sustaining significant damage.

Rafi Md Imtiaz Hossain, divisional engineer of the Eastern Railway, told The Business Standard, “The flood caused varying degrees of damage across different routes. The worst-hit section is the 7-kilometre railway line from Fazilpur to Feni, where one of the two tracks has been destroyed. This section was submerged for four days, and the stones have been washed away, and the sleepers of the railway line have been severely damaged. Train services have been resumed by operating a single line on this stretch of the route.”

“Other affected areas include a 1-kilometre section of the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar railway line between Janalihat, Patia, and Kanchannagar, as well as a 5-kilometre stretch of the Sholashar-Nazirhat route near Nazirhat. These sections were also submerged, leading to significant damage. The Laksam-Noakhali route has remained partially submerged, with 15 kilometres of the 49-kilometre track still underwater as of Thursday,” he added.

He also mentioned that officials from Railway’s Eastern Zone have inspected the damaged areas and are yet to submit the estimated cost of repairs.

Train services on the affected routes were gradually restored after being suspended due to the floods. Limited train movement on the Dhaka-Chattogram line resumed on the night of 26 August, with full services returning to normal the following day. 

Similarly, the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route reopened on 24 August, three days after being closed due to track submersion and landslides.

The Railway Department is now focused on repairing the damaged tracks and ensuring the safe resumption of services across all affected routes.