Nine injured as Metro escalator malfunctions

At least eight people were injured on Thursday when an escalator malfunctioned at Girish Park Metro station here, Metro Railway officials said. 

Two persons, who received serious injuries on their heads, have been admitted at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.

The escalator at the northern end of the station was moving in upward direction when suddenly it started moving downwards at around 8.30 pm, Metro Railway Senior PRO Indrani Banerjee said.

Metro Railway General Manager A K Kapoor ordered a high-level probe into the incident and asked for a report within two days, Banerjee said.

Police said there were around 15 passengers on the escalator when the accident took place. They took the escalator to move out from the metro station near Liberty Cinema Hall on Chittaranjan Avenue. 

Samiran Pal, who witnessed the incident, said he heard a sound and found the escalator operating in reverse. He had just got down from the escalator when the incident took place. “The man who was just behind had managed to get down from the escalator. But the person who was behind him lost balance and fell down on n another person. Similarly all others behind him fell down,” he said adding that almost everyone on the escalator received injuries.

After hearing cry for help, a metro official rushed to the spot and stopped the escalator, said Kanika Pal, who was also present there. Metro officials, however, refused to comment. But an officer said on condition of anonymity that the escalator automatically stopped operating.

A section of passengers also protested against the poor maintenance of the escalator. Metro authorities pressed technical experts to repair the escalator and to find what led to the incident. Policemen from Girish Park police station were also posted outside the metro station.