Minor fire outside Rajiv Chowk metro briefly hits services

A minor fire today broke outside the busy Rajiv Chowk metro station here but smoke emanating from it sounded the fire alarm at the premises, forcing authorities to halt the train service and close the station for a brief period.
According to fire officials, a rubber mat near gate number 1 and 2 caught fire and thick smoke emanating from it entered the station due to which the fire alarm was sounded at the station.
Passengers were evacuated as metro services were interrupted for a brief period and later resumed by 1.28 PM.
Three fire tenders were rushed to the site and the fire was brought under control.

Rajiv Chowk metro station is a main interchange station on busy Dwarka and Nodia City Centre/Vaishali route (Blue Line) and Jehangirpuri and HUDA City Centre route (Yellow Line).
A DMRC spokesperson said that the fire or smoke did not emanate from the metro system.

However, as a precautionary measure the station was closed at 1.22 PM and reopened at 1.28 PM as everything was under control and safety ensured.
The spokesperson claimed that the smoke emanated due to burning of PVC material outside the gate in Central Park, which also opens in the station toward B-block of Connaught place.
According to eyewitnesses, people were evacuated from the platform by security officials after platform area was filled with smoke.

Incidentally, "Fire Safety week" is being observed by Delhi Metro from April 14 to April 20.
Earlier, on April 11, passengers noticed sparks and smoke emanating from the last coach of a moving metro train from Jahangirpuri to HUDA City Centre (Yellow Line).
The train was halted between the two metro stations and the passengers deboarded the train after some sparks were seen in the rear car causing panic among passengers.