For over a week, a persistent blanket of dense fog has thrown rail operations into disarray in North India, with Chandigarh railway station bearing the brunt of the chaos. Hundreds of passengers have been left stranded and frustrated as train schedules have collapsed, with delays stretching up to a staggering ten hours.
Major Services Grind to a Halt
The situation reached a critical point on Tuesday, when at least seven trains arrived in Chandigarh significantly behind schedule. The iconic Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011) became the poster child of the disruption, pulling into the station at 7.44 PM—a full seven hours late from its scheduled 11.07 AM arrival. Railway officials confirmed that the delayed departure from New Delhi, caused by near-zero visibility, was the primary reason.
Other premium services were not spared. Both the Kalka Shatabdi and the Chandigarh Shatabdi arrived approximately one hour late. The ripple effect impacted key connections like the Daulatpur Chowk Jan Shatabdi Express, which was nearly an hour behind, and the Paschim Express, delayed by about 50 minutes.
Long-Distance Travelers Hit Hardest
While short-haul passengers faced inconvenience, long-distance travelers endured the most severe hardships. The Unchahaar Express suffered an extraordinary delay, reaching Chandigarh at 7.15 PM against its scheduled 9.15 AM arrival—a lag of over 10 hours. In another major setback, the Netaji Express, popularly known as the Kalka Mail, arrived four hours and 35 minutes late. The Chandigarh Superfast Express also joined the list of severely delayed services.
Ongoing Crisis and Passenger Plight
This fog-induced paralysis is not an isolated incident but a continuous problem that has plagued the region for more than seven days. The recurring delays have led to overcrowded stations, missed connections, and significant hardship for commuters. Railway authorities are advising passengers to check real-time status updates before heading to the station, as the dense fog conditions are expected to persist, potentially causing further schedule disruptions in the coming days.
