Thick layers of fog and smog continued to wreak havoc across North India on Thursday, severely crippling both air and rail connectivity. The Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh emerged as one of the worst-hit hubs, with significant disruptions leading to numerous cancellations and extensive delays, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
Zero Visibility Halts Airport Operations
Flight operations at the Chandigarh airport came to a virtual standstill in the early hours as visibility plummeted to near-zero levels. An airport spokesperson confirmed that the extremely poor visibility made it unsafe for aircraft movements, compelling airlines to cancel and postpone services. The situation remained critical until around 9 am, after which a gradual improvement was noted. By 9:30 am, visibility had recovered to approximately 400 metres, allowing for a limited resumption of flights.
The impact on passenger schedules was severe. Eleven flights were cancelled till 8 pm on Thursday. The list of cancelled services included arrivals from Jaipur and Delhi, and departures to destinations like Delhi, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and more. Several other flights faced massive delays, stretching into many hours.
Passengers Stranded as Flights Face Hours of Delay
Inside the terminal, anxious passengers waited for updates as their travel plans fell apart. Key examples of the delays included an IndiGo flight to Mumbai (6E-5261), scheduled for a 5:20 am departure, which took off nearly six hours late. Another IndiGo service to Delhi (6E-6742), slated for 7:10 am, was delayed by about five hours. International travel was also affected, with the Abu Dhabi-bound IndiGo flight (6E-1439) departing over an hour and a half behind schedule.
Rail Network Paralyzed Across Multiple States
The travel chaos was not confined to the skies. Dense fog conditions across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar severely disrupted railway schedules, affecting multiple long-distance trains destined for Chandigarh. The Unchahar Express from Prayagraj arrived at 1:15 pm, a staggering four hours behind its scheduled 9:15 am arrival. Other major trains like the Lucknow-Chandigarh Sadbhawna Superfast and the Paschim Express were each delayed by around one-and-a-half hours.
In light of the ongoing disruptions, railway officials have urged passengers to check real-time status updates before starting their journeys. The meteorological department has indicated that similar foggy conditions are likely to persist over the next few days, suggesting continued potential for travel delays.
Looking Ahead: Advisory for Travellers
The widespread disruption underscores the vulnerability of North India's transport infrastructure to severe winter weather. Authorities advise all passengers, whether travelling by air or rail, to maintain constant communication with their airlines or railway enquiry services for the latest information on schedules and potential cancellations. Planning for additional buffer time is highly recommended until visibility conditions show sustained improvement.
