Rail traffic across Lower Assam and parts of north Bengal came to a halt early Thursday after a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) blast damaged a section of track near Kokrajhar.
The explosion occurred shortly after midnight, around five kilometres from Kokrajhar station on the Salakati route. The blast ripped apart nearly three feet of track, with fragments scattered several metres away, officials confirmed.
Kokrajhar Senior Superintendent of Police Pushpraj Singh said there were no casualties or derailments. “The damage was limited to a short portion of the track, which was promptly repaired. Train movement has resumed now,” Singh said.
Train operations were suspended overnight, affecting several Up and Down trains until around 8 a.m. Railway and security teams conducted thorough inspections before allowing traffic to resume.
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Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the incident took place around 1 a.m. near Kokrajhar station under the Alipurduar Division.
“When a goods train was passing between Salakati and Kokrajhar, the train manager reported a heavy jerk, after which the train was stopped. On checking, it was found that there was damage on the track and sleepers due to a suspected bomb blast,” Sharma said.
The track was restored at 5.25 a.m., and normal services resumed thereafter. “Around eight trains underwent detention due to the incident,” he added.
Police, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and intelligence agencies have launched a probe to identify those responsible. Patrolling has been intensified along the section as part of enhanced security measures.
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