Dense fog in the capital delayed the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi by eight hours and 50 minutes. The train reached here at 8.01 pm, instead of its scheduled time of 11 am.
Passengers were not informed about the delay and were only served a samosa and a sweet as refreshments.
“I had booked a hotel in Shimla for tonight but was forced to make arrangements to stay in Kalka as no transportation was available,” said Charu Sharma, a resident of Noida.
The delay caused the evening Shatabdi to run four hours and 45 minutes behind schedule. Passengers going to New Delhi were now expected to reach at 2.45 am instead of its scheduled arrival at 9.55 pm.
“The weather was clear today and I was not expecting the train to be so late. I will now reach New Delhi around 3 am and don’t know how I will make travel arrangements then,” said Shiraz Ahmad, an engineering student.
Other trains affected due to the prevailing weather included Howrah-Kalka Mail which was delayed by 16 hours and 38 minutes and arrived at 8.28 pm, Barmer-Kalka Express which was delayed by three hours and 28 minutes and arrived at 8.48 am, Bhiwani-Kalka Ekta Express which was delayed by two hours and 29 minutes and arrived at 1.02 pm, and Himalayan Queen which was delayed by one hour and 39 minutes and arrived at 12.12 pm.
Meanwhile, only six flights operated from the Chandigarh Airport as airlines had cancelled the remaining nine flights in advance, anticipating disruption in service due to heavy fog.