Cold wave across Punjab, Chandigarh faces disruptions due to flight cancellations and train delays

On Monday, the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh experienced significant disruptions as five-morning flights were canceled due to thick fog and poor visibility. Departures to Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, along with arrivals from Pune and Bengaluru, were affected, causing delays of approximately one hour for most flights.

The New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi faced rescheduling, with its usual 7.40 am departure pushed to 10.30 am. Similarly, the morning Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi experienced a delay of 33 minutes.

Rail travel was also impacted, with the Netaji Express arriving 2.16 hours behind schedule at the Chandigarh railway station. The Lucknow Chandigarh Express faced a delay of 25 minutes, further adding to the travel woes caused by the persistent foggy conditions in the region.

Simultaneously, Punjab and Haryana grappled with severe cold conditions on Monday, with temperatures falling below normal in various places. Bathinda, Punjab, bore the brunt of the chill, recording a low of 4 degrees Celsius. Gurdaspur also experienced a cold night, with the mercury dropping to 4.5 degrees Celsius.

Faridkot registered a minimum temperature of 5 degrees Celsius, followed by Ludhiana at 5.6 degrees and Patiala at 5.8 degrees. Amritsar recorded a night temperature of 7 degrees Celsius. The capital city, Chandigarh, wasn’t spared either, recording a chilly 6.5 degrees Celsius. As the cold wave persists, residents in the region brace themselves for ongoing wintry conditions.