Highly decomposed body found in tunnel of Airport Metro line

New Delhi: Delhi Metro authorities have been left baffled over a possible major security breach in its system after a highly decomposed body was recovered from one of its tunnels earlier this month. The body, which is beyond recognition, was discovered on the airport line between the New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium stations on February 9 during a routine track inspection.

"The body was found around 300 meters from the platform of the station, and it somehow remained undetected for months," according to the source.

Sources also added that the area where the body was found is away from the tracks and opens at the ground level. Access to this area is through the ground level, leaving it mysterious how the man got access to the area. "The area is in an emergency shaft of a cross-passage which opens at ground level and is not in regular operational area, DMRC spokesperson said.

"Access to this area is through the ground level which is cordoned off and thus detection was difficult," he added.

Police official said it seemed highly unlikely that the person entered the tunnel through the station as the access is restricted to authorised staff. So far there have been no complaints of any staff member missing, thus ruling out that the deceased could be a CISF or Metro worker, ruling out possibility of identifying the body.

The 22.7-km airport Metro line connects the New Delhi railway station to Dwarka Sector 21. Except for the Dhaula Kuan-Delhi Ridge stretch, the line is underground, running through tunnels that go as deep as 18 metres.

"Security and maintenance staff enter the tunnel through the gates at the end of the platforms, the keys of which are with the station controller," source added. Moreover, Delhi Police has launched an investigation and a senior officer said possible loopholes in security need to be plugged.