5 hurt as Metro Rail escalator reverses direction

Five persons were injured when a moving escalator at Kavi Subhas Metro station in the Southern fringes of the city suddenly reversed its direction due to a technical snag, throwing off the commuters. The incident took place at around 10.30 am on Tuesday, triggering panic among passengers who were about to use the escalator at the station.

Eyewitnesses said that after getting off a Dum Dum-bound train, at least 12 passengers were on the escalator which opens on the exit near Liberty cinema. The escalator stopped abruptly and — within a few seconds — started moving downwards.

Several people were caught off guard and could not keep their balance. They fell and five persons suffered injuries.

Passengers who were about to use the escalator found that it started moving downwards with a sudden jerk. The security staff and Metro officials rushed to the spot and rescued the victims.

The victims received minor injuries and received primary treatment. But the incident created a furor at the Metro station, with the passengers using the stairs to come out of the station.

A senior Metro Railway official said that the incident occurred at around 10.30 am when the hand rail of the upward moving escalator started moving in the opposite direction

"It is unfortunate that some persons received minor injuries after they fell down from the escalator as it started reversed direction. The passengers were later released after preliminary treatment at the Metro station. We are trying to ascertain the exact cause of the incident," a senior Metro Railways official said.