Metro malfunctions again, passengers evacuated

The city's transport lifeline, the Kolkata Metro, malfunctioned again on Wednesday morning, as over 2,000 passengers had to be evacuated to safety after a south-bound train got derailed during the peak office-time period.

“A Kavi Subhas-bound Metro train got derailed this morning at 9.30 (am) while entering the Central station of Metro Railway. Immediately after the incident, the passengers of the train were evacuated safely by on duty station staff and also Metro officers by 10.06 (am),” a Metro Railway release stated.

This is the second such evacuation in less than 10 days. On October 12, a similar number of passengers had to be taken to safety after a train got stalled during the evening rush hour, and subsequently Metro property was damaged by errant crowds.

The cause of the derailment, which affected all Metro services till noon, a Metro official said, could not be established immediately. “We have initiated a departmental inquiry. It will take some time. At least three days will be required before we can comment further,” the official added.

Incidentally, the existing rakes which service the Kolkata Metro are over two decades-old and have been struggling with the growing ridership of the system, which has swelled since the southern extension project was opened last year.

The two new rakes, which have been produced from the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, have had a delayed introduction into the system, thereby aggravating the overall situation.

However, when asked whether the aging rakes were the primary reason behind today's mishap, a Metro official did not offer any comment.

Meanwhile, the mishap has taken on a political colour with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Partha Chatterjee alleging that the Left government was targeting the Railways, a ministry which is headed by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee herself said, “The Metro runs for 365 days a year. Such incidents are can happen once in a while”.

Earlier this month, at the inauguration of the final stretch of the southern extension project, Banerjee had Left was “sabotaging” maintenance work of the Metro Railways.