Ludhiana Rail Services Paralyzed by Dense Fog and Cold Wave
Dense fog and a severe cold wave brought rail services in Ludhiana to a near standstill on Thursday. Poor visibility that began on Wednesday evening created massive disruptions across the network. Long-distance trains faced delays stretching for hours, numerous services were cancelled outright, and passengers endured significant hardship while waiting in freezing temperatures.
Major Train Delays Cause Widespread Inconvenience
The disruption impacted dozens of trains. The MCTM Udhampur Weekly Express ran more than five hours behind its scheduled time. Himgiri Express experienced a delay exceeding three hours. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Superfast Express arrived over an hour late at its destination.
Sarbat Da Bhala Express was among the worst affected services, running nearly seven hours behind schedule. Shaheed Express also faced a delay of more than one hour. Other significantly delayed trains included:
- Amritsar Karambhoomi Express: Delayed by close to three hours.
- Paschim Superfast Express: Delayed by about an hour.
- Amritsar Express: Delayed by approximately an hour.
- Begampura Express: More than two hours late.
- Sachkhand Express: Over two hours behind schedule.
- Golden Temple Mail: Arrived over an hour late.
- Hemkunt Express: Ran about an hour behind schedule.
- Andaman Express: Delayed by more than one and a half hours.
Multiple Train Cancellations Add to Passenger Woes
Beyond the delays, railway authorities cancelled several trains due to the hazardous weather conditions. The list of cancelled services was extensive and included:
- Ghazipur City Express
- Amritsar Cantt Ludhiana Express
- MCTM Udhampur Superfast Express
- Jammu Tawi Humsafar Express
- Amritsar Jan Sewa Express
- Nangal Dam Express
- Agra Cantt Express
- Jammu Mail
The New Delhi Vande Bharat Express was also called off for the entire day. Jalandhar City Intercity Express remained cancelled for a second consecutive day. Delhi Sarai Rohilla Superfast Express and Churu Ludhiana Passenger services joined the list of cancellations.
Passengers Endure Hardship in Freezing Conditions
Passengers faced considerable difficulty as they waited on crowded platforms in the biting cold. The situation proved especially challenging for families with young children and elderly travelers. Many people complained about a lack of timely announcements and clear information regarding revised train timings.
"It was extremely challenging to travel with children in such weather," said Kiran, a passenger stranded at the station. "But sometimes these journeys are unavoidable."
Throughout the day, passengers continued their wait on platforms. Railway officials worked to manage the cascading effects of the delays and cancellations caused by the dense fog. Many travelers expressed hope for an improvement in weather conditions soon. They want train operations to return to normal schedules, providing relief for all affected commuters.
