Metro glitches: Thousands affected after overhead cable breaks, causes snag

Thousands of Delhi Metro commuters had a horrifying experience on Wednesday after an overhead electric (OHE) cable broke down near Indraprastha station, forcing the train to stop mid-way on the Yamuna Bank-Indraprastha stretch.

The metro services were affected at around 5.50 pm. Passengers-on board in the stranded metro had to be evacuated through emergency exit as they walked their way towards the station.

‘At first, I was not worried when the metro stopped in the middle of the track. This happens almost with every metro. But this was something serious. It was very frustrating to walk towards the station,’ said Nitish Dikshit, a management student in a private college.

The spokesperson of the DMRC said that it was just a minor fault and the team was immediately rushed to the spot. ‘It is very unfortunate that the passengers had to walk down to the stadium. We are really sorry for that. However, these are just minor technical faults,’ said the spokesperson.

The Blue Line operates from Dwarka to Noida City Centre/Vaishali terminals.

Due to the fault, three stations between Yamuna Bank and Barakhamba Road - Indraprastha, Pragati Maidan and Mandi House were shut down. As a result, crowds swelled at many platforms along the route — one of the busiest in the capital — that links Dwarka on the west edge of Delhi with Noida and Vaishali in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Train services were available in loops from Dwarka to Barakhamba and Yamuna Bank to Noida/Vaishali.

Those who decided to take the autos and taxis instead were fleeced.

‘Due to the snapping of an overhead electrical wire near Indraprastha station, no services were available between Yamuna Bank and Barakhamba (Road) since 6.40 p.m.,’ said a statement from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

‘The problem was rectified at 7.35 p.m. and normal services were restored afterwards,’ added the statement.