Torrential Monsoon Rains Trigger Railway Track Subsidence in Murshidabad, Disrupting North-South Bengal Train Services

Persistent, heavy monsoon downpours across West Bengal have severely impacted rail communication within the Eastern Railway’s Howrah-Malda division. A sudden track subsidence near the New Farakka station in Murshidabad district disrupted crucial connectivity between southern and northern Bengal, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

According to railway officials, the incident occurred during the early hours when soil beneath the up-line tracks eroded just before the entry point of the Farakka Barrage. Continuous heavy rainfall over the preceding days saturated the earth, heavily softening the foundation beneath the tracks and causing a major portion to give way. Patrolling gangmen first noticed the dangerous twist in the alignment and halted traffic just in time to avert a major disaster.

The disruption brought several premier long-distance trains to a standstill, including the Darjeeling Mail, Gour Express, Padatik Express, and Jogbani Express. Stranded passengers faced acute hardships as trains remained locked down at intermediate stations like Tildanga and Malda Town. Many frustrated commuters were seen navigating waterlogged tracks on foot to reach nearby highways.

Senior engineers and technical maintenance teams rushed to the site, launching round-the-clock repair operations on a war footing using boulders, sand, and ballast. While alternative routing, single-line operations, and controlled bypass measures were progressively introduced to ease the backlog, several express services experienced prolonged delays or scheduled diversions.

This rail disruption coincides with an aggressive spell of active monsoon activity across West Bengal. Heavy downpours have triggered widespread waterlogging, swollen regional rivers, and raised flood concerns as barrages discharge excess water, putting civic and transit infrastructure across the state under severe strain. Railway authorities have urged passengers to check updated transit schedules before starting their journeys while safety inspections continue across vulnerable tracks in the division.

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