Fog delays 13 trains in north India

Extreme foggy conditions engulfing large parts of northern India has led to the cancellation of as many as 13 trains today, according to Northern Railways officials.

The mass cancellation of trains was also effected due to delay in running of corresponding trains.

Some of the cancelled trains include Magadh Express, Gomti Express, Lichchavi Express, Pratapgarh-Kanpur Express, Shan-e-Punjab Express, Seemanchal Express and New Delhi-Jalandhar Express, among others, said a Northern Railways spokesperson.

Besides this, 49 trains reaching Delhi are also running late inordinately, the spokesperson said, adding the failure in Northern Grid last night also led to the delay.

Yesterday, at least 10 persons were killed and 39 injured in three separate accidents involving five passenger trains in Uttar Pradesh amid dense fog and near zero visibility conditions.

Among those killed when the Bhiwani-Gorakhpur Gorakhdham Express hit the stationary Prayagraj Express at Panki railway station in Kanpur district were seven men and three women.

The accident took place when the two trains coming from Delhi were on the same track. The Delhi-Allahabad Prayagraj Express was at the station when the Gorakhdham Express hit it from behind in the dense fog, PRO of North Central Railway  (Allahabad) Amit Malviya told PTI.

In another accident, Licchavi Express rammed into the stationary Magadh Express at Sarai Bhopat near Etawah in Uttar Pradesh at around 8am yesterday.

A third train accident occurred near Allahabad due to fog involving Sarju Express and a trolley. There was no casualty.