Severe Fog Blankets Northern India, Disrupting Transportation and Causing Delays

In a significant weather development, very dense fog engulfed several regions in Punjab, northern Haryana, and Chandigarh, impacting visibility and disrupting daily activities. The meteorological report for the early morning hours of the day highlighted the severity of the fog, categorizing it as very dense in specific areas. Jammu Division, West Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar also experienced isolated pockets of very dense fog, contributing to challenging conditions for residents and travelers.

The visibility recorded at 0530 hours IST indicated extremely poor conditions in various locations, with readings falling below 200 meters. The affected regions included Jammu Division, where Jammu recorded visibility as low as 25 meters. Similarly, in Punjab, Amritsar and Patiala faced visibility challenges at 25 meters each. The situation was equally dire in Haryana-Chandigarh, with Ambala and Chandigarh both experiencing visibility limitations of 25 meters.

West Uttar Pradesh, specifically Bareilly, recorded visibility at 25 meters, while Bihar grappled with reduced visibility in Purnea (25 meters), Bhagalpur (50 meters), and Patna (200 meters). East Uttar Pradesh reported limited visibility in Bahraich (50 meters), Sultanpur (200 meters), Varanasi (200 meters), and Gorakhpur (200 meters).

The impact of the fog was not confined to the northern regions alone. East Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, West Madhya Pradesh, West Rajasthan, and north Chhattisgarh all reported varying degrees of fog, with some areas experiencing moderate fog in isolated pockets.

Transportation Disruptions in Delhi Area: Trains Delayed Due to Fog

The dense fog severely affected transportation services, particularly in the Delhi Area, leading to significant delays in train schedules. As of January 7, 2024, several trains were reported to be running behind schedule, causing inconvenience for passengers. The delays ranged from one to six and a half hours, further exacerbating the challenges posed by the foggy conditions.

Here is a list of trains and their respective delays:

1. 12801 Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Exp: Delayed by 1.00 hour
2. 12451 Kanpur-New Delhi Shramshakti: Delayed by 1.00 hour
3. 12553 Saharsa-New Delhi Vaishali Exp: Delayed by 1.30 hours
4. 12225 Azamgarh-Delhi Kaifiyat Express: Delayed by 1.00 hour
5. 12413 Ajmer-Katra Pooja Express: Delayed by 6.30 hours
6. 12427 Rewa-Anand Vihar Exp: Delayed by 1.00 hour
7. 12919 Ambedkarnagar- Katra Express: Delayed by 1.30 hours
8. 12557 Muzaffarpur-Anand Vihar Exp: Delayed by 2.00 hours
9. 12615 Chennai- New Delhi GT: Delayed by 2.00 hours
10. 11841 Khajuarao-Kurukshetra Exp: Delayed by 4.00 hours
11. 12904 Amritsar-Mumbai Exp: Delayed by 1.15 hours
12. 12414 Jammutawi-Ajmer Express: Delayed by 6.30 hours
13. 15658 Kamakhya-Delhi Jn. Mail: Delayed by 1.30 hours
14. 14623 Seoni- Ferozpur: Delayed by 4.30 hours
15. 14624 Ferozpur-Seoni: Delayed by 6.30 hours
16. 15707 Katihar- Amritsar Express: Delayed by 6.00 hours
17. 22415 Bhubneshwar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express: Delayed by 1.00 hour
18. 12904 Amritsar-Mumbai Express: Delayed by 1.15 hours
19. 12309 Rajendranagar- New Delhi Rajdhani: Delayed by 1.30 hours
20. 12423 Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani: Delayed by 1.15 hours
21. 12426 Jammutawi-New Delhi Rajdhani: Delayed by 2.00 hours
22. 22691 Banglore-Nizamuddin: Delayed by 1.15 hours

The delays not only inconvenience passengers but also pose operational challenges for the Indian Railways. Authorities are advising travelers to check real-time updates and plan their journeys accordingly, considering the prevailing weather conditions.

As the dense fog continues to shroud various parts of northern India, residents and travelers are urged to exercise caution, use appropriate safety measures, and stay updated on the latest weather and transportation information. The impact of the fog on daily life and infrastructure underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate such disruptions in the future.