Passengers in Ludhiana endured a day of significant hardship as the city's railway network descended into chaos, marked by extensive delays and a slew of cancellations. The widespread disruption left countless commuters stranded and forced to alter their travel plans at the last minute.
Severe Delays Plague Key Train Services
The ripple effect of the disruption was felt across both short-distance and long-haul services. The Begampura Express was once again running behind schedule, this time by approximately three hours, adding to a recent pattern of unreliable timings that has angered regular passengers. Similarly, the Amritsar Jan Shatabdi Express also faced a three-hour delay.
However, long-distance travelers bore the brunt of the crisis. The situation was particularly dire for the Amritsar Clone Special, which was running nearly 13 hours late, causing immense inconvenience. The Hirakud Express was also severely impacted, operating more than four hours behind its scheduled time. Other notable delays included the Hemkunt Express (about two hours late) and the Galta Dham Pooja Superfast Express (over one and a half hours delayed).
Long List of Train Cancellations Adds to Woes
Beyond the delays, railway authorities were forced to cancel a significant number of trains, compounding the travel nightmare for the public. The Shan-e-Punjab Express was cancelled for the entire day. Several other crucial connections were also called off, leaving many with no alternative.
The complete list of cancelled trains included:
- Ludhiana–Jakhal Passenger
- Amritsar Express
- Jammu Mail
- Delhi Sarai Rohilla Duronto Express (from Jammu Tawi)
- Jalandhar Intercity Express
- Tatanagar–Jallianwala Bagh Express
- Sirsa–Ludhiana Passenger
- Amritsar–Hisar Express
- Nangal Dam Express
Commuters Left in the Lurch
The cascading effect of these disruptions created scenes of frustration and anxiety at Ludhiana's railway stations. With limited information and alternatives, passengers were left scrambling to make new arrangements. The recurring nature of such incidents, as seen with the Begampura Express, points to systemic issues that continue to plague rail operations in the region, demanding urgent attention from Indian Railways authorities to restore reliability and passenger trust.
