For the third day in a row, dense fog continued to wreak havoc across Bihar's capital, severely crippling rail operations on the crucial Delhi-DDU-Patna mainline route on Saturday. The persistent low visibility led to massive delays for numerous long-distance trains, causing significant hardship for thousands of passengers, especially senior citizens.
Major Trains Running Hours Behind Schedule
According to sources from the Danapur railway division, the disruption was widespread. The New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Tejas Rajdhani Express arrived 2 hours and 57 minutes late, while the Sampoorna Kranti Express on the same route was delayed by a substantial 3 hours and 25 minutes. Other key services were also affected: the New Delhi-Rajgir Shramjeevi Express was 2 hours behind, and the New Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express faced a nearly five-hour delay, arriving 4 hours and 53 minutes late.
The Anand Vihar-Danapur Jansadharan Express was also delayed by 3 hours upon reaching Danapur. The situation was so dire that railways had to cancel the Delhi-Alipur Duar Mahananda Express from both ends following its excessive delay on Friday. The New Delhi–Howrah Poorva Express ran 40 minutes behind schedule.
Nationwide Impact and Safety Measures
The fog's impact extended beyond trains originating from Delhi. Several long-distance services from major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and Bengaluru were also running several hours late. As a critical safety precaution, loco pilots were forced to operate trains at significantly reduced speeds due to the poor visibility.
A Danapur railway official stated that the division, which manages fog-prone sections on the Buxar-Ara-Danapur and Patna-Barh-Mokama-Kiul routes, is on high alert. "Track patrolling has been intensified round the clock, and warning signals are being used to ensure the smooth running of passenger trains during this extreme cold," the official said.
Patna Zoo Implements Special Winter Care for Animals
Meanwhile, as the winter chill intensifies, the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, commonly known as the Patna Zoo, has activated special protocols to protect its animal residents. On Saturday, Pramod Kumar, Bihar's Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, conducted an on-site inspection to review these winter preparedness measures.
The strategies, put in place since October, were examined during visits to enclosures for tigers, snakes, birds, and zebras. To combat the cold, night houses have been winterised by sealing windows and vents with thatch grass and bamboo mats.
"Our primary goal is to ensure animals remain insulated from the freezing ground," explained a senior zoo official. The zoo has installed wooden platforms and oil heaters to maintain stable temperatures. Elephants are receiving regular mustard oil massages, while carnivores and primates have been provided with enhanced diets and extra protective bedding to help them cope with the harsh conditions.
