Mock drill at 6 metro stations

Some commuters upset as trains were stopped

Mock drills were conducted at six busy Metro stations on Thursday as part of the mega, city-wide exercise to check the response of emergency services in the event of an earthquake.

The drills evaluated the Metro staff’s readiness to deal with disaster, but also upset passengers delayed by the exercise.

Metro operations were shut down at AIIMS, Inderlok, Karkardooma, Tilak Nagar, Khan Market and Dwarka Sector 10 stations between 11.30 am and noon. 

“Operations were suspended and entry into these six stations was closed as a part of the standard emergency procedure. Announcements were made in trains and stations during this period, asking commuters to remain calm,” a Metro official said.

Officials involved with the drill at Karkardooma station said it was a success. While over 150 passengers were evacuated from the station after the drill started, commuters travelling in the last train and who reached the station ahead of the drill, were brought to a lobby attached to the platform. 

“The drill included shifting injured people to hospital. A total of 11 persons were taken to hospitals by 11.58 am,” said a member of the civil defence team of Delhi Disaster Management Authority. 

The half-an-hour-long mock exercise hit thousands of commuters. While some commuters said they knew about the temporary stoppage of services due to the drill, others complained they had no clue that trains would be stopped and stations closed down.

“I had to take a train from New Delhi railway station. I took the metro to save time. I would have hired an autorickshaw if I knew about the exercise,” said Rajeev Singh, a resident of Kaushambi.

Regular commuters said they were aware of the drill as announcements have been made at Metro stations for the last three days.