59 trains delayed, 35 cancelled

On the passenger information board, all the trains were either delayed or cancelled, reports Chandralekha Mukerji and Nasreen Ghani.

On the passenger information board, all the trains were either delayed or cancelled.

HT Image

The platforms at the New Delhi Railway Station were packed to the brim with stranded passengers Debraj Sahu (35) was waiting for the Puri Express with his wife and two children.

He had spread his beddings and blankets on the platform like everyone else, as the train was 13 hours and 20 minutes late.

“There was no space in the waiting room,” he said.

The alternative to waiting in the open is the Ginger Railway Yatri Niwas where rooms are available at Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 per night, which is not within the means of all.

At least 59 trains were delayed, 35 were cancelled and 30 were rescheduled due to dense fog on Thursday.

Shambhu Kumar (28) works with an export house.

He and his wife were waiting at the station for Vikramshilla Express, which was delayed by 7 hours and 30 minutes.

“I have my six-month-old daughter with us and there is no space at the Rail Yatri Niwas,” he said. “We cannot afford to stay in a hotel. So, we have to spend the night on the platform.”

Passengers who managed to squeeze inside the waiting lounge had their share of grievances.

“I am glad my train is late by just 4 hours. The washrooms are so dirty that they can't be used,” said Anil Sharma (56) who was waiting for the Mumbai Rajhdani Express.

“I wonder how people have been waiting here for more than 12 hours without basic facilities,” he said.

For Jagdish Singh, a CRPF jawan, the train delay meant some avoidable paperwork.

He was traveling on Pooja Express from Jammu. The train arrived at Old Delhi Railway Station eight hours late.

“I had to report to my office in the morning. Now, I have to give a written proof from the station master that the train was late for which I am running around,” he said.