Terrible Tuesday jams central Delhi

Metro commuters had a harrowing time today after train operations were affected due to tripping of the Over Head Electrification, that delayed more than 20 trains.

Metro commuters had a harrowing time today after train operations were affected due to tripping of the Over Head Electrification, that delayed more than 20 trains.

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Metro services were affected from 1.40 pm to 2.40 pm on Line 2 (Central Secretariat-Jahangirpuri) after flashes were noticed on the rear pantograph (which supplies power) of a train at Rajiv Chowk which was on its way from Central Secretariat to Jahangirpuri.

DMRC said the potential transformer, housed in insulated material of a train, failed, resulting in tripping of the OHE power. The Emergency Trip System (ETS) was used to cut off power supply to the OHE by the Metro staff at the Rajiv Chowk station after sparks were detected on a train.

Passengers on a train from Central Secretariat to Jahangirpuri had to be evacuated at Patel Chowk as train movement was stopped on the line. The train was still inside the tunnel with passengers. The deboarding was done for the safety of passengers.

Sources said passengers began complaining of suffocation as the train stalled inside the tunnel. The deboarding of passengers also took up a lot of time, resulting in more delay.

Hundreds of passengers stranded at Rajiv Chowk, along with other stations on the line.

Many passengers got into arguments with the Metro staff, asking for a refund.

“No one had any clue why the services had stalled and no announcements were made,” said Abhishek Sharma, a marketing executive. “I left the station to take a bus or auto rickshaw to Hauz Khas but thanks to the traffic jam at CP, I got delayed by hours any way.”

Normal services were by 2.42 pm, DMRC said.