Dense Fog Disrupts Air and Rail Services in Patna
Brief By Newsbrief / 8:44 AM on 03 Jan 2026
Severe fog conditions continued to disrupt normal life in Patna on Friday, grounding flights and severely impacting rail operations. Poor visibility at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport led to the cancellation of four flights as landing and take-off operations became unsafe. Several other flights were delayed, causing inconvenience to hundreds of passengers amid freezing weather conditions.
Rail services were hit even harder, with a total of 28 long-distance trains reaching Patna several hours behind schedule. According to railway officials, delays ranged from 45 minutes to as long as 26 hours, leaving many passengers stranded or struggling to arrange onward travel. Premium services, including Rajdhani and Sampoorna Kranti Express trains, were among those affected, along with multiple mail and express services connecting Bihar to other parts of the country.
Officials said dense fog significantly reduced visibility on tracks, making it difficult for train drivers to spot signals from a safe distance. As a precautionary measure, trains were operated at reduced speeds, inevitably affecting punctuality. Weather experts have warned that foggy conditions are likely to persist for the next few days, especially during night and early morning hours.
Passengers have been advised to regularly check flight and train schedules before traveling, as further delays and cancellations remain likely due to ongoing winter weather conditions.