Thick fog disrupts train services across northern India

Train services were disrupted across most parts of northern India on Friday due to a dense fog.

Reports from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh said that there was low visibility.

A thick fog enveloped the city and brought the day temperature down to 17.1 degrees Celsius, seven degrees below normal.

Several trains were delayed by over five hours.

Passengers were left stranded on railway platforms, battling the winter chill.

Chandan, a passenger, said: "I came here at 2.30 am, the train was scheduled to arrive at 3 am. My brother was supposed to arrive by this train at 3.00 am., but it is already very late. I am very troubled, since it is winter.

The railways have devised a safety plan to tackle fog through a multi-pronged strategy.

The chief public relations officer of North Eastern Railway (NER), Amit Singh, said: "Fog does disrupt train services, but it becomes essential for us to reduce the speed of trains, keeping in view the safety of passengers. We ensure that trains run on a restricted speed to avert accidents. This is why trains are often delayed.

To reduce the impact of the fog, the Railway Board has decided to install fog-safe devices in all the trains.

The device will alert the driver about the approaching signal and the latter can reduce the train speed after the warning. After the successful trials, the Railway Board has decided to go for an extended trial this winter.