Crow’s electrocution hits Metro services, around 2,000 stranded

According to officials, a strand of overhead electrification wire snapped near Yamuna <g data-gr-id="37">Bank,</g> after a <g data-gr-id="30">crow</g> got electrocuted. Services went haywire on the Blue Line – one of the busiest routes of the Delhi Metro.

The incident took place around 6:<g data-gr-id="39">15pm</g> when the train came to an abrupt <g data-gr-id="38">halt,</g> while approaching towards the Yamuna Bank station from Laxmi Nagar.

When the Metro service on the Blue Line did not resume after 15 minutes, passengers  opened the emergency door train and walked on tracks to reach the nearest Metro station. CISF personnel were called to get the train evacuated.

“During the overhead electrification (OHE), repair  work in of one of the trains approaching Yamuna Bank from Laxmi Nagar got held up mid-section and passengers opened the emergency doors,” the Delhi Metro said in a statement. According to  a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official, the affected train could not be moved as passengers walked on tracks. More than 20 trains were affected, leading to heavy rush at Metro stations on the Dwarka-Vaishali line.

According to sources, over 2,000 passengers were stranded at several Metro stations and services were restored only around 8:<g data-gr-id="40">06pm</g>. 

The DMRC, however,  claimed services were “running normally” between Noida and Dwarka section. 

The DMRC said there was further delay in carrying out repair work due to the glitch. The overcrowded trains caused further delay as automated gates took <g data-gr-id="41">time</g> to close, which is essential for a Metro to start. 

Blue Line is considered to be snag-prone. Even on Tuesday, all trains on the corridor slowed down around 11:<g data-gr-id="32">50am</g>. The  average speed of Metro trains is 36 km/hour. Recently, the DMRC had replaced all faulty insulators on the overhead electrification, which were apparently causing snags.