Title - Fog hits train schedule in Jharkhand, flights unaffected

RANCHI: Fog and cold waves have hit railway services in the state with many trains getting cancelled or delayed.

"We have decided to cancel Jharkhand Swarna Jayanti Express on Garhwa route in January. The train will go to Delhi only thrice a week via Gomo," said Yogesh Ranjan Tamwar, assistant commercial manager, South East Railway.

The New Delhi Rajdhani Express arrived eight hours late on Wednesday while the one leaving for Delhi was delayed by five hours.

Maximum temperature on Thursday was 19.4 degree Celsius while minimum was at 6.4 degree Celsius in Ranchi, said the weather office. Even with many layers of warm clothes on, Ranchiites are finding it difficult to beat the biting cold. "The same (condition) is expected on December 28 but temperature may rise by a degree on December 29," said GK Mohanty, director at India Meteorological Department, Ranchi.

Many trains have also been rescheduled as the mercury continues to plummet in the state owing to the cold north-westerly winds.

"The departure time of Delhi-bound Sampark Kranti Express from Ranchi has been extended from 11:30 pm to 1:40 am on Thursday. Jammu Tawi Express and Jharkhand Swarna Jayanti Express from Delhi were almost 22 hours late," said Tamwar.

However, no flight has been cancelled so far. "None of the flights have been cancelled or delayed till now, neither the timings have been changed," airport director Raghvendra Raju said.

Administration is taking all measures to protect the poor, especially in the rural areas, from the chill. In the coal mining areas and the rural pockets, temperature dropped to as low as 4 degree Celsius.

Governor Dr Syed Ahmed on Thursday directed Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi district Vinay Choubey and CEO of Ranchi Municipal Corporation Deepankar Panda to arrange bonfire for people living on streets and distribute blankets among poor.

"More than 7,000 blankets have been distributed in the city till date and more will be distributed soon. Also, firewood is being lit at major points of the state," said Choubey.

Keeping in view the increasing cold, DC has also issued a notice to all government and private schools to start classes from 8:30 am.

For those riding two-wheelers, the problem is the worst. Many like Manish Kumar, an employee at a private firm, complain that even in jackets and pullovers there is no respite. "I return home around 9 pm... and to protect myself from cold I wear two sweaters, a jacket, muffler and gloves, still

by the time I reach home my nails turn blue due to cold."

Deputy commissioner, Amitabh Kaushal said here on Thursday that administration has arranged for bonfire fire at public places and 80 percent of blankets purchased for freedistribution among the poor and needy people has been distributed by the administration.

Cantonment Board of Ramgarh (CBR) a local civic body has arranged for bonfires at different places including Ramgarh town in wakeof severe cold in the ditrict.