Rail services on the Lumding–Badarpur hill section were briefly disrupted on Monday, April 6, 2026, after the Kanchanjunga Express collided with a herd of buffaloes inside Tunnel No. 16 near New Haflong in Assam’s Dima Hasao district at about 11:55 am. The impact caused multiple animal casualties and temporarily blocked the track.
Railway sources said several buffaloes were found caught near the locomotive after the collision. While some animals were injured, officials reported a total of eight buffaloes dead at the scene, with others trapped along the tracks and close to the engine.
Teams from the Railway Engineering Department and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) based at New Haflong were dispatched immediately. Rescue and clearance operations were launched to remove carcasses and debris and to inspect the rake and track for damage.
As part of the response, the passenger train was reversed to New Haflong station to facilitate removal of the animals and to safeguard the coaches and crew. Railway officials said the track was cleared shortly afterward and normal train movement on the Lumding–Badarpur hill section resumed once clearance work was completed.
No injuries to passengers or railway staff were reported. Authorities said they are expected to review safety measures to prevent animals from entering vulnerable sections of track, particularly tunnels in hilly terrain.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/kanchanjunga-express-hits-buffalo-herd-inside-tunnel-near-new-haflong-rail-services-briefly-disrupted-1371615-2026-04-06?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-04-06 23:54:00
