<p>Despite the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) repeated claims of “fail safe” technical system which ensures commuters’ safety in case of breakdown of any of the sub-systems, the two-hour fiasco on Tuesday on Yellow Line is a glaring example of lack of its preparedness to evacuate stranded passengers in an underground stretch.<br /><br /></p>.<p>At around 9.15 am, a train started from Central Secretariat Metro station towards Udyog Bhawan but broke down midway. <br /><br />Hundreds of commuters including children and women were groping in darkness between the two stations. <br /><br />With no help in sight even half an hour later, the passengers broke open the emergency exit in panic. <br /><br />“The DMRC didn’t even make a proper announcements about what had happened and how much time it would take to fix the fault,” said Rohan Shukla, after reaching Rajiv Chowk. <br /><br />“We waited for 20 to 25 minutes after which, we pushed the emergency gates open,” he added. <br /><br />Travellers entered the rail tracks from both the emergency gates. <br /><br />A DMRC official said, “Some passengers entered the adjacent track which was meant for Jahangirpuri-bound train. As the track was populated by commuters, the Metro operational managers decided against sending a rescue train to push the stranded train towards the next station since this could have endangered the lives of commuters moving on the tracks.”<br /><br />While the passengers said the technical glitch could be fixed only after 11.35 am, DMRC official claimed that services resumed at 11 am. <br /></p>
<p>Despite the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) repeated claims of “fail safe” technical system which ensures commuters’ safety in case of breakdown of any of the sub-systems, the two-hour fiasco on Tuesday on Yellow Line is a glaring example of lack of its preparedness to evacuate stranded passengers in an underground stretch.<br /><br /></p>.<p>At around 9.15 am, a train started from Central Secretariat Metro station towards Udyog Bhawan but broke down midway. <br /><br />Hundreds of commuters including children and women were groping in darkness between the two stations. <br /><br />With no help in sight even half an hour later, the passengers broke open the emergency exit in panic. <br /><br />“The DMRC didn’t even make a proper announcements about what had happened and how much time it would take to fix the fault,” said Rohan Shukla, after reaching Rajiv Chowk. <br /><br />“We waited for 20 to 25 minutes after which, we pushed the emergency gates open,” he added. <br /><br />Travellers entered the rail tracks from both the emergency gates. <br /><br />A DMRC official said, “Some passengers entered the adjacent track which was meant for Jahangirpuri-bound train. As the track was populated by commuters, the Metro operational managers decided against sending a rescue train to push the stranded train towards the next station since this could have endangered the lives of commuters moving on the tracks.”<br /><br />While the passengers said the technical glitch could be fixed only after 11.35 am, DMRC official claimed that services resumed at 11 am. <br /></p>
