THE intense cold wave and dense fog shrouding North India have severely disrupted rail operations, bringing the pace of several long-distance trains to a crawl. On Tuesday, several prominent trains arriving at Bhopal and Rani Kamalapati (RKMP) stations from Delhi and Bihar directions were running behind schedule by two to seven hours, leaving passengers in a state of distress. EXTENSIVE DELAYS ACROSS MAJOR ROUTES;The impact of low visibility was most pronounced on trains arriving from the New Delhi and Varanasi sectors.

 

The 12716 Sachkhand Express, a key link between New Delhi and Bhopal, recorded a delay of 5 hours and 40 minutes. However, the 01028 DadarGorakhpur Special (DR SPL) arriving from Varanasi caused the most significant inconvenience, pulling into Rani Kamalapati station a staggering 6 hours and 58 minutes late. STATUS OF KEY AFFECTED TRAINS:

 

■ 12716 Sachkhand Express: 5 hours 40 minutes late (New Delhi to Bhopal)

■ 01028 Dadar-Gorakhpur Special: 6 hours 58 minutes late (Varanasi to RKMP)

■ 12138 Punjab Mail Express: 3 hours late (Delhi to Bhopal)

■ 19484 Ahmedabad Express: 2 hours 30 minutes late (Muzaffarpur to RKMP)

■ 22686 Karnataka Sampark Kranti: 2 hours 28 minutes late (Bhopal to Pune direction)

 

The massive delays have led to overcrowding at the waiting halls of Bhopal and Rani Kamalapati stations. Families traveling with small children and elderly passengers found themselves braving the biting cold on platforms as they awaited their delayed transits. Railway administration officials stated that the delays are a result of strictly enforced safety protocols. "Due to near-zero visibility in several pockets of the northern and eastern regions, trains are being operated at controlled speeds to ensure the safety of passengers and rolling stock. While we regret the inconvenience, safety cannot be compromised during such extreme weather conditions," railway official said.