Suicide Attempt Halts Kolkata Metro Blue Line Services for Nearly an Hour
Metro services on Kolkata's crucial North-South corridor, commonly known as the Blue Line, were severely disrupted for approximately 50 minutes on Sunday morning following a distressing suicide attempt. The incident occurred at Rabindra Sarobar station, leading to the suspension of operations between Maidan and the southern terminal, Shahid Khudiram stations.
Details of the Incident and Emergency Response
A Metro Railway spokesperson confirmed that at 10:45 AM, a passenger attempted suicide by jumping in front of a Dakshineswar-bound metro train. In response, truncated operations were immediately implemented, with trains running only between Maidan and Dakshineswar stations to manage the situation. The spokesperson elaborated, "The train was heading from Shahid Khudiram towards Dakshineswar. Around 10:45am, a man jumped in front of the moving train. The driver applied the emergency brakes immediately."
Emergency protocols were swiftly activated to rescue the individual. Metro staff rushed to the scene, and as a safety measure, the third rail—which supplies electricity for train movement—was switched off. "Efforts were on to rescue the passenger, for which power to the tracks was disconnected," the official added. Normal services over the entire Blue Line corridor were successfully restored by 11:33 AM, allowing operations to resume fully.
Commuters Face Inconvenience and Alternative Arrangements
Regular announcements were made at stations to keep commuters informed about the disruption. However, the sudden halt caused significant inconvenience to daily travelers. Asit Das, a commuter affected by the incident, shared his experience: "I planned to go to Dakshineswar temple this morning. As I stepped into Shahid Khudiram, I was told there was a suicide bid and trains were only running in the Maidan-Dakshineswar section. Since the distance is pretty long, I took a bus to Maidan and then boarded a train to Dakshineswar."
This disruption marks the second such incident within a short span, highlighting ongoing concerns. Just days earlier, on Thursday evening, Blue Line Metro services were similarly impacted for an hour during peak rush hour after another passenger jumped in front of a speeding train bound for Shahid Khudiram. These repeated incidents underscore the need for enhanced safety measures and mental health awareness in public transport systems.
The Kolkata Metro, a vital artery for the city's commuters, continues to grapple with such challenges, affecting thousands of passengers daily. Authorities are urged to review and strengthen preventive strategies to mitigate such occurrences in the future.
