A severe blanket of dense fog engulfed North India on Friday, triggering widespread chaos and significant disruptions across the railway network. The hazardous conditions forced system-wide speed restrictions, leading to cascading delays that left thousands of passengers stranded at stations, shivering in the biting cold.
Commuters Face the Brunt of Winter Chaos
The impact was felt most acutely at major railway hubs like Ludhiana and Amritsar, where platforms were packed with weary travelers. Long-distance and intercity services bore the worst of the disruptions, with some trains running nearly half a day behind schedule. The delays affected several crucial routes, including the premium Vande Bharat service.
Passengers reported missed business appointments and ruined travel plans. "I had to reach Delhi for an official meeting, but the delays made it impossible to arrive on time," shared Anuj, a commuter waiting at Ludhiana station. Many have now adapted to the winter ordeal, using mobile tracking apps to time their arrival at stations, essentially building multi-hour delays into their travel schedules.
Railways Prioritize Safety Over Speed
Railway authorities defended the extensive delays, emphasizing their "Safety First" policy. In dense fog, loco pilots are mandated to operate under strict speed caps to ensure they can spot and react to track signals, which become nearly invisible even at short distances.
"Due to dense fog, trains are operated at restricted speeds to avoid any untoward incident. Passengers are advised to check train status via official apps before leaving for the station," stated a railway official in Ludhiana on Friday.
More Disruptions Likely in Coming Days
The weather outlook offers little respite. With the winter fog season now fully set in, similar disruptions are expected to continue. Passengers traveling across North India should prepare for significant delays, particularly during the late morning hours, for the remainder of the month. The advisory remains clear: always verify your train's real-time status through official channels before embarking on your journey.
