Metro services crash as power connection falters, commuters in dire straits

Kolkata: Metro services were disrupted on Monday evening after a rake got stuck on the Down line due to power failure. As a result, passengers had to face immense harassment while going to their destinations during the peak hours.

According to sources, at around 6:30 pm on Monday a Kavi Subhash bound Metro rake got stuck at Sovabazar Metro station. Despite repeated efforts by the motorman, the rake could not be started. Later, it was found that the electricity connection was faltering despite repair works.

Having no other way, services were totally suspended for almost an hour. In the meantime, despite repeated requests, passengers of another Metro rake which was stuck at Central Metro station, refused to evacuate the rake to allow truncated service.

Later at around 7:30 pm, Metro authorities convinced the passengers and started truncated service between Central and Kavi Subhas Metro stations.

The first truncated service ran at 7:32 pm from Central Metro station. But after two service runs, the passengers got furious and started an agitation.

According to the Metro Railway authorities, passengers have been refusing to cooperate and thus they were unable to run the truncated services. Till last news came in at around 9:30 pm, Metro services have not commenced yet. The rake which got stuck at Sovabazar Metro station, has been moved after three hours.

It may be mentioned here that similar problems have occurred on several occasions in the said area in recent past. Though Metro Railway authorities claimed that the problems related to power connection have been solved, it can evidently be seen that the situation still needs rectification.