Patna: Dense fog across north India caused major disruption to air and rail services in Patna on Friday, with poor visibility forcing the cancellation of flights and leaving dozens of long-distance trains running hours — and in some cases more than a day — behind schedule.
At Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, four flights were cancelled as visibility dropped sharply during the day. The affected services included Air India’s Delhi–Patna–Delhi flight (AI1749/1892) and three IndiGo flights operating on the Kolkata–Patna–Kolkata, Hyderabad–Patna–Hyderabad and Delhi–Patna–Delhi routes.
Rail traffic was hit even harder. A total of 28 trains, including premium services such as the Tejas Rajdhani and the Sampoorna Kranti Express, arrived late at Patna Junction and nearby stations. Delays ranged from 45 minutes to as long as 26 hours, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or struggling to rearrange onward journeys.
Among the badly affected trains were the Poorva Express, Vibhuti Express, Kota–Patna Express, Anand Vihar Terminal Garib Rath, Humsafar Express, Upasana Express, Islampur–Hatia Express and the Amritsar–Howrah Mail. Several services ran between five and 13 hours late, while the South Bihar Express arrived more than 26 hours behind schedule.
Railway officials said train speeds had to be reduced significantly as fog made it difficult for drivers to spot signals at a safe distance. “Safety protocols require trains to slow down in such conditions, which inevitably affects punctuality,” an official said.
Meteorologists have warned that foggy conditions are likely to persist for the next few days, particularly during early morning and late night hours. With visibility expected to remain poor, passengers have been advised to check flight and train statuses before travelling, as disruptions are likely to continue.
