For over a week, a thick blanket of fog has severely crippled transportation networks in North India, with Chandigarh bearing a significant brunt. The persistent low visibility has led to massive disruptions in both rail and air traffic, causing extensive delays and cancellations that have left hundreds of passengers stranded and frustrated.
Railway Operations Thrown Into Disarray
The impact on the railway schedule has been particularly severe. On Monday, the situation remained grim with six trains arriving late at Chandigarh railway station. The prestigious Kalka Shatabdi experienced a major setback, pulling into the station at 4 pm, a staggering over five hours behind its scheduled arrival time of 11:07 am.
Other important trains were also significantly behind schedule. Officials reported that the New Delhi–Amb Andaura Vande Bharat Express (22447) was delayed by nearly an hour. The delays stretched longer for other services: the Kerala Sampark Kranti Express (12217) was late by about 3 hours, and the Chandigarh Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express (22685) arrived approximately 4 hours late.
Passenger Hardship on Long-Distance Routes
The preceding Sunday night presented an even more distressing scenario for travelers on long-distance routes. The Unchahaar Express (13217), scheduled to arrive at 9:15 am, finally reached Chandigarh at 7:21 pm, marking an incredible delay of over 10 hours. In a similar plight, the Netaji Express, popularly known as the Kalka Mail (12311), was 11 hours late. Passengers on these trains endured considerable hardship due to the extraordinarily prolonged journeys, with many complaining about lack of information and basic amenities.
Air Travel Hit for Sixth Consecutive Day
The aerial gateway to the city has been no less affected. For the sixth day in a row, operations at Chandigarh airport and source airports across the country were thrown into chaos due to dense fog. The ripple effect led to the cancellation of nine flights and delays for 14 others on Monday.
Among the cancelled services were flights to major destinations including Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Patna, and Jaipur. Even international travel was impacted, with the flight to Abu Dhabi facing delays during the day. The continuous disruption has caused a backlog and uncertainty for flyers, with airlines struggling to accommodate rescheduled passengers.
Railway and aviation authorities have consistently pointed to the foggy conditions prevailing across northern India as the primary cause for the widespread delays. While they have issued advisories, the lack of a quick resolution continues to test the patience of daily commuters and long-distance travelers alike. The situation underscores the vulnerability of transport infrastructure to severe weather during the winter months in the region.
