A severe cold wave and dense fog have thrown rail travel across northern India into complete disarray, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. The extreme weather conditions have forced the cancellation of several premier train services, including the flagship Vande Bharat Express, causing widespread inconvenience and significant delays across the regional network.
Major Trains Cancelled, Delays Mount
Railway authorities were compelled to cancel a string of high-profile trains as visibility dropped dangerously low during peak hours. Among the key services suspended were the New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Jammu Tawi Duronto Express, Amritsar-Ajmer Express, and the Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express. The disruption was not limited to long-distance trains; essential regional connections were also axed.
This included the Jalandhar City Intercity and several passenger trains linking Ludhiana to Jakhal, Sirsa, and Hisar. For the trains that managed to run, 'operational constraints' due to the fog created a massive logistical bottleneck, leading to extensive delays.
Commuters Bear the Brunt of Chaos
The impact on schedules has been severe. The Malwa Superfast Express faced the longest delay, running behind schedule by over seven and a half hours. Other significant hold-ups included the Sachkhand Express (three and a half hours late), the Amritsar Garib Rath (four hours late), and the New Delhi Intercity (two hours late). This unpredictability has hit daily wage workers and regular commuters the hardest.
Parminder Singh, who travels between Jalandhar and Ludhiana, expressed his frustration. The repeated cancellation of the Intercity service has made it nearly impossible for him to reach his workplace on time. "That train suited my timings perfectly," said Singh. "Finding reliable alternatives in this weather is difficult and expensive."
Passengers Demand Immediate Action
At Ludhiana station, scenes of frustration have become common as stranded passengers wait for clarity. Many have now called upon the railways ministry to take urgent action. They are demanding that the authorities deploy unscheduled special trains to clear the massive backlog of travellers, similar to the strategy often used during the festival season to manage extra rush.
The ongoing situation has effectively severed key transit links between Punjab and the national capital, New Delhi, highlighting the vulnerability of transport networks to extreme weather events and the urgent need for robust contingency planning.
