Patna, January 6, 2025 – Train services on the Kanpur-Prayagraj-DDU-Patna route were severely disrupted for the third consecutive day due to dense fog, which has enveloped large parts of the NCR region. The reduced visibility, particularly during nighttime and early morning hours, compelled railway authorities to impose strict safety measures, resulting in significant delays for trains heading to Bihar from New Delhi.
According to railway sources, visibility was drastically reduced between 9 pm and 9 am, leading to slow-moving trains and some being rerouted. Several prominent trains were affected, with delays ranging from a few hours to almost half a day.
The New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Tejas Rajdhani Express (12310) reached Patna eight hours behind schedule, while the New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Sampoorna Kranti Express (12393) was delayed by four hours. Similarly, the New Delhi-Rajgir Shramjeevi Express (12392) and the New Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express (20802) reported delays of three to five hours.
Trains traveling to Sonepur and Samastipur divisions under the East Central Railway (ECR) via the Lucknow-Gorakhpur route were also significantly delayed. However, ECR divisions maintained relatively high punctuality rates over the past week, with Samastipur leading at 93%, followed by Sonepur (88.20%), Dhanbad (83.90%), Danapur (77.10%), and DDU (75.90%).
Passengers expressed frustration over the delays. Rajiv Kamal and Jyoti Sinha, traveling on the Rajdhani Express, shared their ordeal, noting a lack of updates from New Delhi station. “We were supposed to reach Patna by 5 am, but the train finally arrived after 1 pm,” they said. Many passengers were seen scrambling for information amidst the chaos.
As the dense fog is expected to persist, railway authorities have urged travelers to verify their train schedules before heading to stations. Passengers have been advised to prepare for delays as safety remains the top priority during adverse weather conditions.
