A thick, relentless blanket of winter fog brought Northern India's railway network to a virtual halt on Tuesday, turning Ludhiana Junction into a scene of frustration and endurance. Passengers faced agonizing waits as trains, including premier services like the Vande Bharat, turned into "phantoms"—appearing on display boards but failing to materialize on the tracks for hours on end.
Network Paralysis: Delays Stretch Beyond Half a Day
The severe fog, which drastically reduced visibility across the region, impacted nearly every major corridor. The crisis was not limited to ordinary services; even high-speed and premium expresses succumbed to the weather-induced "white-out." The situation led to massive schedule disruptions, with some long-distance trains running more than half a day behind.
The Amritsar Superfast Express recorded the most significant delay, running over 12 hours late. Passengers aboard the New Delhi Vande Bharat Express from Katra endured a grueling 10-hour wait. The Shan-e-Punjab Express from the capital was delayed by more than eight hours.
Other major services severely affected included:
- MCTM Udhampur Weekly Superfast (from Indore): 7 hours late
- Malwa Superfast Express: 7.5 hours late
- Amritsar Garib Rath Express: 4.5 hours late
- Sachkhand Express (from Hazur Sahib): 3.5 hours late
Strategic Cancellations to Avert Total Collapse
As the backlog of delayed trains mounted dangerously, railway authorities were forced to make strategic cancellations to prevent a complete network collapse. This drastic step saw several key services being taken off the schedule entirely.
Among the high-profile cancellations were the New Delhi Vande Express, the Jammu Tawi Duronto Express, and the Amritsar Howrah Mail. Local and regional connectivity suffered equally. Services like the Hisar Ludhiana Passenger and several regional expresses, including the Agra Cantt and Jammu Mail, were removed from the boards at Ludhiana Junction.
Passenger Ordeal: A Test of Endurance on Cold Platforms
For thousands of commuters, what should have been routine travel transformed into a grueling test of patience and physical endurance. Station platforms at Ludhiana were crowded with stranded families, many huddled under blankets for warmth, clinging to update announcements that changed frustratingly by the hour.
Expressing the collective anguish, Harminder, a local resident facing a protracted wait, said, "Travelling in these foggy winter conditions is such a pain. One has to go through the ordeal of hours of waiting, and unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about it." The scene underscored the widespread disruption and the human cost of the severe weather, leaving passengers feeling helpless against the forces of nature that crippled a critical national infrastructure.
