A severe blanket of dense winter fog brought the railway network in the Ludhiana region to a virtual standstill on Monday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded on platforms. The near-zero visibility conditions forced extensive speed regulations, triggering cascading delays of up to 14 hours and leading to the cancellation of over a dozen regional and long-distance trains.
Major Services Grind to a Halt Amid Safety Protocols
Railway authorities, prioritizing passenger safety, mandated strict speed controls as visual signaling became ineffective in the thick fog that persisted from late night through the morning. This necessary precaution resulted in a domino effect of disruptions across the schedule. Long-distance travelers faced the worst of it, with several trains running many hours behind their planned arrival and departure times.
The most severely affected was the Amritsar Clone Special Train, which recorded a staggering delay of 14 hours. The Amritsar Garib Rath Express was also hit hard, running over nine and a half hours late. The list of other major impacted services includes:
- Ferozepur Cantt Intercity: 7 hours late
- Mour Dhwaj Express (to Jammu Tawi): 6.5 hours late
- Malwa Super Fast Express: 4.5 hours late
- Shan-e-Punjab Express: 4 hours late
- Sachkhand Express: 3 hours late
Even premium services were not immune, with the Amritsar Swarna Jayanti Shatabdi Express operating over an hour behind schedule. To manage the growing congestion on the network, railway officials were compelled to cancel several prominent long-distance and commuter routes.
Passenger Anguish and Economic Toll
Railway stations across the region presented scenes of frustration and exhaustion, crowded with weary commuters grappling with unpredictable schedules. While many acknowledged that train travel was a safer option compared to roads under such dangerous visibility conditions, the personal and economic costs of the massive delays were palpable.
"It is not just about inconvenience," shared a passenger waiting for a delayed express train. "Many people miss important appointments and meetings. I hope the railways process refunds smoothly for these cancelled trains." The sentiment echoed through the platforms, highlighting the broader impact of the weather-induced paralysis beyond mere travel time.
Railways Cite Safety as Paramount Concern
Defending the decisions that led to the widespread delays, railway officials maintained that speed regulation is a mandatory and non-negotiable safety protocol during dense fog. The primary concern is the well-being of the hundreds of passengers aboard each train when drivers' visibility is reduced to almost nothing. The authorities emphasized that these measures, though disruptive, are essential to prevent accidents and ensure everyone reaches their destination safely, however late.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of transport infrastructure to extreme winter weather in North India and raises questions about contingency planning and communication for passengers during such widespread disruptions.
