With dense fog expected to blanket large parts of north India this winter, the Indian Railways has taken a preventive measure to avert any accident.

As such it has announced the cancellation of two trains running from Jharkhand to other parts of the country from Dec 1 to Feb 28 as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety.

These two trains are: Hatia-Anand Vihar Express and Tata-Amritsar Express.

In addition, other important trains cancelled during the same period due to forecast of severe fog are the Prayagraj-Muzaffarpur Express, Howrah-Dehradun Upasna Express, Kolkata-Birangna Laxmibai Jhansi Express, Malda Town-New Delhi Express, Barauni-Ambala Express, Purnia Court-Amritsar Janseva Express, Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express, Kamakhya-Gaya Express.

According to ECR chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra, at least 24 regular mail and express trains either originating from or passing through the jurisdiction of the East Central Railway (ECR) have been cancelled while the frequency of 28 other trains has been reduced during the three-month period. 

The decision follows forecasts of severe fog conditions likely to disrupt train movements, particularly along the busy Prayagraj-Tundla section of the North Central Railway (NCR) and other parts of the northern region, he said.

In addition to long-distance services, the railways has also reduced the frequency of several passenger trains as part of its mandatory winter precautionary measures aimed at minimising delays, preventing operational hazards and ensuring the highest level of passenger safety, he said.

“Winter fog often results in major disruptions with trains running several hours late due to low visibility. The railways has thus advised passengers to check updated schedules before planning journeys and to expect adjustments in arrival and departure times throughout the fog-affected period,” the CPRO said.

Similarly, among the important passenger trains whose frequency has been reduced are the Gwalior-Barauni Express, Ajmer-Sealdah Express, Howrah-Kathgodam Bagh Express, Kolkata-Amritsar Express, Bhagalpur-Anand Vihar Express, Kamakhya-Anand Vihar Express, Patliputra-Lucknow Express, Patliputra-Gorakhpur Express and Dibrugarh-Lalgarh Awadh Express, the CPRO added.