In Gaya, Bihar, dense fog on Monday morning amidst severe cold weather brought rail operations to a standstill. Due to extremely low visibility, train speeds had to be restricted for safety reasons, directly impacting long-distance trains. Dozens of mail and express trains, including the Rajdhani Express, ran hours behind schedule, causing significant inconvenience to passengers.
The crowd of passengers at Gaya Junction swelled due to the delayed arrivals. Waiting for hours on the platform in the cold proved troublesome for many. Several passengers reported missing their connecting trains, forcing them to make new arrangements for onward travel. Elderly passengers, women, and children particularly found the cold and long wait especially difficult.
Early in the morning, the fog in Gaya and surrounding areas was so dense that platforms, rail tracks, and signals were barely visible. Under these circumstances, locomotive pilots had to exercise extreme caution. Many trains were operated at a slower speed, while some had to be stopped intermittently to wait for signal clearance. This affected operations in both directions and disrupted the entire timetable.
According to railway administration, passenger safety is the top priority during foggy conditions. For this reason, train speeds are kept low and operations are sometimes halted if necessary. Officials stated that efforts are being made to gradually bring trains back to their normal schedule as the weather clears, but this is entirely dependent on the fog situation.
The Meteorological Department has indicated that dense fog is likely to persist during the early mornings and late nights for the next few days. Passengers traveling through Gaya are advised to check the latest information before boarding their trains and to allow extra time, keeping delays in mind. Vigilance remains the greatest support during this period of cold and fog.
