Thousands left stranded after glitch in Metro
Metro commuters in the national capital had a harrowing time when a train stopped near a station due to a technical fault at about 11.30 am, disrupting Metro services for nearly two hours on Tuesday, Raksha Bandhan day.
Thousands of people were stranded at various stations on the Jehnagirpuri-Central Secretariat line. Most had come to board the train to visit relatives and celebrate Raksha Bandhan. Though the DMRC had announced that over 180 extra trips would be run, even the normal schedule could not be met.
There were over 500 passengers, including children and women, who were stuck inside the train for around 90 minutes.
DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said the train abruptly stopped due to a problem in its pantograph, which draws power from the overhead electricity lines. He said the affected train was removed from services at 1.11 pm with the help of another train and about 500 passengers travelling by it were “deboarded” at Rajiv Chowk Metro station.
Passengers grew anxious and desperate when they found themselves stuck in the train. The lights and air-conditioning were not working, leading to breathlessness. Passengers were seen banging on the doors from the inside when they did not open. They were later taken out via the emergency exit. “It was a horrifying experience. I felt I would die in the overbreathed air. I felt like breaking the glass door just to get a draught of fresh air,” said Manish Nandan, a Delhi University student.
The train could not move out of the station, following which the Metro halted operations on the line.
A large number of people were stuck at Rajiv Chowk and Kashmere Gate stations, which are junctions for getting onto other lines.
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