For the eighth day in a row, a thick blanket of fog has severely disrupted railway operations in and around Chandigarh, leading to significant delays for numerous trains and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and inconvenienced.
Premium and Commuter Services Bear the Brunt
The impact has been widespread, affecting both premium and regular services. The high-profile Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011) arrived at Chandigarh station at 12.22 pm, nearly an hour behind its scheduled 10.59 am arrival. Officials attributed this delay to the train's late departure from New Delhi, where dense fog and extremely poor visibility hampered early morning operations.
Another Shatabdi service, the 12005 Kalka Shatabdi, reached its destination about 35 minutes late, disrupting the plans of daily commuters and office-goers. The premium Amb Andaura Vande Bharat Express also faced delays of around an hour. Other important trains like the Daulatpur Chowk Jan Shatabdi Express (12057) and the Paschim Express (12925) were delayed by nearly 30 minutes and 1 hour 15 minutes, respectively.
Long-Distance Travelers Face Severe Hardships
The situation was far more grim for passengers on long-distance routes. In a shocking delay, the Unchahaar Express (13217) arrived at Chandigarh at around 9.50 pm, a staggering over 12 hours late from its scheduled 9.15 am arrival time. The Netaji Express or Kalka Mail (12311) was also severely behind schedule, reaching about four and a half hours late. The Chandigarh Superfast Express too reported considerable delays.
Passengers voiced their frustration over prolonged waiting hours, a lack of timely updates from authorities, and missed connecting journeys. Many stated that the persistent disruptions over the past week have completely derailed their travel plans.
Safety Protocols and Passenger Advisory
Railway authorities explained that the persistent fog and dangerously low visibility, particularly during early morning and late-night hours, have forced them to regulate train speeds and movements as a critical safety measure to prevent accidents. The foggy conditions have affected large parts of northern India for over a week now.
Officials have advised all passengers to check the latest train running status with Indian Railways before starting their journey. They warned that fog-related disruptions and subsequent delays are likely to continue in the region for the next few days.
