Goods train derails in Assam

Guwahati, May 7 : At least 13 wagons and the engine of a goods train derailed on Thursday in central Assam's North Cachar Hills district.

"The train carrying essential items from Lumding to Badarpur jumped the tracks near Dijaobori, between Langting and Maibong stations," Superintendent of Police, N N Sarma told PTI.

"The wagons fell from the tracks, while an engine of the train slipped the rails," he said.

Refuting reports of local TV channel that militants attacked the train, Sarma asserted that "no militants were involved. There was no firing or explosions to derail the train".

Heavy load on the tracks may have caused the derailment, he said.

Northeast Frontier (NF) railway sources said, their officials had rushed there and investigations were on.

Militants belonging to Dima Halam Daoga (Jewel faction) had frequently attacked trains in the district before and after Lok Sabha polls there.

NF railways had resumed their goods train services on an "experimental basis" in the troubled district's Lumding-Badarpur section from Tuesday after it was stopped two weeks ago due to militant attacks on railway property.