Snag hits Kolkata Metro, disrupting services for 3 hours

A major technical snag disrupted services of Kolkata Metro for nearly three hours during peak hours on Thursday. Several trains got held up inside tunnels and a few plunged into darkness as the power supply to the third rail tripped.

A major technical snag disrupted services of Kolkata Metro for nearly three hours during peak hours on Thursday.

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Several trains got held up inside tunnels and a few plunged into darkness as the power supply to the third rail tripped.

Smoke was spotted from a train when it entered the Rabindra Sarobar station in south Kolkata. Taking no chances, the authorities evacuated the entire train. The smoke, followed by evacuation and deployment of security personnel sparked panic among the commuteRs

General Manager of Metro Railway, D N Tripathi has ordered an enquiry into the incident.

“There seems to be some lacuna on the part of the maintenance. I have ordered an enquiry and action would be taken once the report comes in,” he said.

A Kolkata Metro employee, however, revealed a metal strip that connects the rake to the third rail that carries electricity broke and damaged the third rail. This tripped the power.

The broken strip was repaired and the train was operated again. But within a few minutes it broke for a second time.

Power tripped again, and the crucial third rail was damaged.

A similar kind of snag had hit the metro on 6 September. Passengers had spotted sparks beneath the compartments after a loud thud.

Technicians had eventually traced the problem to a broken tie-rod that links braking appliances to the wheels.