Severe fog and adverse weather conditions brought the crucial Delhi-Patna railway corridor to a near-standstill on Friday, causing extensive delays and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at various stations. The blanket of dense fog drastically reduced visibility, forcing trains to operate at minimal speeds for safety, which cascaded into massive schedule disruptions across the network.
Major Trains Grind to a Halt with Record Delays
According to officials at the Danapur railway control room, the impact was severe on all mail and express services. The New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Tejas Rajdhani Express, a premium service, arrived in Patna nearly 10 hours and 46 minutes behind its scheduled time. In an even more significant delay, the New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Sampoorna Kranti Express was recorded running late by a staggering 12 hours and 39 minutes.
The disruption was not limited to these two trains. A host of other important services on the route were also severely affected:
- The New Delhi-Rajgir Shramjeevi Express was delayed by approximately two hours.
- The New Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express faced a delay of 5 hours.
- The Anand Vihar-Danapur Jansadharan Express ran late by 2 hours and 42 minutes.
Passenger Hardship and Lack of Information
The ripple effect of the primary delays impacted connecting and long-distance services as well. The New Delhi-Howrah Poorva Express was running 6 hours and 24 minutes behind schedule, while the Anand Vihar-Bhagalpur Vikramshila Express suffered a delay of close to seven hours.
For passengers, the situation translated into immense hardship. Daily commuters and those traveling for urgent work or personal reasons bore the brunt of the crisis. Many were left waiting for hours on cold platforms with little clarity on the arrival times of their trains.
Brijesh Kumar, an aggrieved passenger who arrived in Patna to board the Vikramshila Express, highlighted the lack of timely updates from authorities. He, along with many others, endured extended and uncertain waiting periods at major stations along the route, including Buxar, Ara, Danapur, and Patna Junction. The absence of real-time information added to the anxiety and discomfort of the stranded travelers.
Operational Challenges During Fog Season
The incident underscores the perennial challenge the Indian Railways faces during the winter fog season in North India. While safety protocols mandate reduced speed in low visibility, the massive cascading delays point to systemic issues in managing such widespread disruptions and communicating effectively with passengers.
The disruption on the Delhi-Patna route, a critical artery connecting the capital to Bihar, highlights the need for more robust fog-proofing measures and contingency plans to minimize passenger inconvenience during such annual weather events.
