A powerful improvised explosive device (IED) blast late on Wednesday night damaged a section of the railway track between Kokrajhar and Salakati stations in Assam’s Kokrajhar district, bringing train movement to a complete halt and triggering panic among passengers.
According to initial reports, the explosion took place at around midnight, nearly five kilometres east of Kokrajhar railway station. The impact of the blast was so strong that it tore through the track, bending the metal rails and scattering debris across the line. The incident immediately forced railway authorities to suspend all traffic on both up and down lines as a precautionary measure.
Following the explosion, several trains were stopped at different stations, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in the middle of the night. Many passengers were seen waiting anxiously at platforms as railway staff announced cancellations and diversions. The sudden disruption caused confusion and fear among those travelling through the area, as news of the blast quickly spread.
Teams from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and Assam Police rushed to the spot soon after receiving the alert. Bomb disposal units and forensic experts were also deployed to examine the blast site and collect evidence. The damaged section of the track was cordoned off, and repair work began in the early hours of Thursday under heavy security.
Officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said that efforts are underway to restore the line at the earliest. “Our teams are on the ground, and restoration work has already started. Passenger safety remains our top priority,” a senior railway official said on condition of anonymity.
Security agencies have launched a thorough investigation to determine who was behind the blast and the motive behind the attack. Though no organisation has claimed responsibility yet, sources indicated that the pattern of the explosion suggested it was carried out using a high-intensity IED, likely planted to cause major disruption.
Additional security personnel have been deployed across the Kokrajhar and Salakati areas, and patrolling has been intensified along vulnerable sections of the railway line. Police have also increased surveillance in nearby villages and market areas to trace possible suspects and prevent any further untoward incidents.