Doors of a moving Delhi Metro train stayed open for 150 seconds ? two-and-a-half minutes ? during rush hour on Thursday morning after the driver forgot to close them. The signal panel, which normally alerts a driver if a door is open, had been put on bypass mode due to an earlier glitch in the system.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials confirmed none of the commuters were hurt. The errant train operator has been suspended with immediate effect and investigations in the matter are on. This is the first time an incident of this nature has been reported on the Delhi Metro.
The incident was reported around 9.40 am between Arjangarh Metro station and Ghitorni on the Yellow Line (HUDA City Centre to Jahangirpuri). More than 9 lakh passengers travel on this route on weekdays.
DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal told Newsline that the train driver first noticed a glitch in the signalling panel when the train reached Sikanderpur Metro station, two stations before Arjangarh.
?Every Metro train has two cab doors at both ends for the drivers. On Thursday morning, the signalling panel beeped, indicating that the rear cab door was open. The driver got down to inspect the rear cab door and found it to be closed. The safety mechanism of the Delhi Metro coaches is designed in a way that if the signals indicate a door is open, the train would not move. He alerted the control panel about the glitch. The control panel then gave the driver permission to resume the journey keeping the train on bypass mode,? he said.
The train arrived at Guru Dronacharya and Arjangarh Metro stations on bypass mode. ?At the Arjangarh station, after commuters had boarded the Metro, the driver forgot to close the coach doors on the left. Since the signalling panel was in bypass mode, he did not realise that the doors were open. He was supposed to physically check the doors. Prima facie, it is an error on the part of the train operator. He has been suspended with immediate effect,? Dayal said.
The Metro usually travels at a speed of 33 kmph. But it was probably moving faster at the time of the incident as it covered the 2.7-km stretch between Arjangarh and Ghitorini in 2.5 minutes.
Metro officials, however, downplayed the incident by saying that the line was not one of the busier routes.
?The major rush is on the line between Qutub Minar and Jahangirpuri. The affected line was a different stretch, which is relatively less crowded,? a DMRC official said.
Gyanam, who takes the Metro from Guru Dronacharya station to his office in Central Delhi, said the incident alarmed passengers, who started pressing alarm buttons frantically to alert the driver. ?When the train was pulling out of the station, we thought the doors might close in a few seconds. But that did not happen. The train was at full speed and this stretch is one of the longest between two stations. Moreover, the coach was full and all passengers huddled together, lest anybody fall,? he said, showing a video of the entire episode he captured on his cellphone.
Soon after, social media, including Facebook and Twitter, were flooded with comments from harrowed commuters and shocked public, who expressed dismay over ?such a major security lapse? on the ?trusted? Delhi Metro.
Snag hits Blue Line again, DMRC denies incident
Commuters travelling on the Blue Line between Dwarka-Noida/ Vaishali were left waiting for the train for an hour on Thursday afternoon, after the line developed a snag. Though DMRC officials denied any disruption in rail services, commuters said trains from Dwarka bound for Noida did not arrive for more than 55 minutes. The incident was reported around 12.30 pm when scores of commuters on the line were reportedly left stranded. Many of them posted pictures on Facebook and Twitter of the Metro display board showing the waiting time for the next train as ?55 minutes?. (ENS)
Twitter:
@jaltweets
Doors of Delhi Metro remained open in between certain stations. Bombay people rejoice. Apni local ke to baarish me bhi band nahi hotey (sic)
@doctor_sidhant
Doors of Delhi Metro train remained open between Arjun Garh and Ghitorni. Passengers shocked (sic)
@Ishan_bhatkoti
Finally! #DelhiMetro joins the league of other #trains in #India… It was running with open doors. #happiness #truestory (sic)
@_Innovision
Since its inception in 1984 Kolkata Metro couldnt do what Delhi Metro did today… Door of Delhi Metro remained open while on Transit!
@Solanki1015
Chalo achha hai ab isbaat ka toh fikr nahin rahega ki darwaza kis taraf khulega
@AAP_Gladiator
Breaking News: Lol, this is delhi metro..with open doors! #CarelessNess pehle isko tho sudhar lo, phir bullet Lana! (First set this right. Then, get bullet trains)
