Rail Chaos Continues as Fog Blankets Key Delhi-Patna Route
For the second day in a row, severe fog and inclement weather brought rail services on the crucial Delhi-Kanpur-DDU-Patna mainline to a crawl on Friday. The persistent poor visibility led to widespread and significant delays for numerous mail and express trains destined for Patna, leaving passengers stranded and schedules in disarray.
Major Trains Running Hours Behind Schedule
According to updates from the Danapur control room, all major trains arriving in Patna from Delhi were running late by several hours. Railway officials adopted cautious operational protocols, mandating reduced speeds to ensure passenger safety in the challenging conditions.
The impact was felt across premier services. Key delays reported include:
- New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Tejas Rajdhani Express: Delayed by 2 hours.
- New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Sampoorna Kranti: Behind schedule by 3 hours and 37 minutes.
- New Delhi-Rajgir Shramjeevi Express: Delayed by 3 hours.
- New Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express: Late by 3 hours and 45 minutes.
- Anand Vihar-Danapur Jansadharan Express: Delayed by 3 hours and 45 minutes.
- New Delhi-Howrah Poorva Express: Reached Patna at least 42 minutes late.
Safety First: Railways Enforce Strict Fog Protocols
The Delhi-Kanpur-Prayagraj-DDU section is one of the busiest rail corridors in the country. Sources from the North Central Railway explained that foggy conditions create a cascading effect, disrupting train movements throughout the night and into the morning. The railways have issued strict directives to adhere to all safety measures to prevent accidents.
A Danapur railway official detailed the steps being taken. "Counseling sessions are being conducted for loco pilots at all major stations," the official said. "Fog-safety devices installed on locomotives are being actively used to help pilots assess track conditions and maintain safe speeds."
In addition to technological aids, the railways are deploying traditional methods like signal detonators on the tracks. These devices provide loud, audible warnings to alert loco pilots of potential dangers or signals ahead when visibility is near zero.
The combination of advanced devices and rigorous training underscores the railway's priority on safety, even as passengers endure long delays. The situation is being closely monitored, with services expected to normalize only after the fog conditions lift significantly.
