Thick fog blanketed Chandigarh on Thursday, severely disrupting both air and rail connectivity across the region. Poor visibility forced authorities to cancel multiple flights and impose significant delays, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and frustrated at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport and railway stations.
Flight Operations Grind to a Halt
Six outgoing flights from Chandigarh airport were cancelled during the early morning hours as visibility dropped below safe operational limits. Airport CEO Ajay Verma confirmed that the dense fog was the primary cause, compelling airlines to suspend services for passenger safety.
The cancelled IndiGo flights included services to Bengaluru (6E 593), Ahmedabad (6E 6395), Hyderabad (6E 6470), Srinagar (6E 6041), Pune (6E 681), and Delhi (6E 2113). Beyond cancellations, the ripple effect was widespread, with a total of 28 flights experiencing delays in arrival and departure.
Passengers Face Long Hours of Uncertainty
Airline operators reported that 20 flights departed late from Chandigarh. Notable delays included the international IndiGo flight to Abu Dhabi (6E 1439), which was pushed back by one hour and 51 minutes. Several flights bound for Delhi and Bengaluru were delayed by more than three hours, with some departures taking off 3 hours and 18 minutes behind schedule.
The disruption wasn't limited to departures. At least eight arriving flights from cities like Indore, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Srinagar, and Kolkata landed late, most by over an hour.
Inside the terminal, passengers endured long waits and confusion. Many complained about a lack of timely information and repeated changes to departure timings. Families with children and elderly travellers were particularly affected, with some being stranded for hours. "My Delhi flight was rescheduled three times before finally departing late in the afternoon. There was a lot of confusion," shared one weary passenger.
Rail Network Paralyzed by Fog
The region's rail services were not spared from the fog's impact. Key trains faced substantial delays due to speed restrictions imposed for safety. The Goa Sampark Kranti Express (12449) arrived over two hours late, while the Kalka Shatabdi Express (12005) was delayed by about an hour.
Other affected services included the Chandigarh Shatabdi Express (12045), which arrived 25 minutes late, and another Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011), delayed by 35 minutes. The Unchahaar Express (14217) reached its destination nearly three hours behind schedule, and the Amb Andaura train was delayed by around 45 minutes. Railway officials cited fog-related safety protocols as the cause, which led to cascading delays across the network, causing many passengers to miss their connecting services.
Authorities Issue Travel Advisory
With foggy conditions expected to persist during early morning and late-night hours in the coming days, authorities have advised all passengers to check the latest status of their flights and trains before starting their journeys. The disruption highlights the vulnerability of winter travel in North India to weather conditions and underscores the need for passengers to plan accordingly.
