Twin suicide attempts throw Metro services in Kolkata out of gear

Kolkata, June 27 (IANS) The Metro services in Kolkata were severely affected on Saturday due to two suicide attempts.

While services were held up for nearly 25 minutes earlier in the morning, train movement along a particular stretch had to be stopped for nearly an hour in the afternoon.

While one of those who attempted suicide could be saved, the other person did not survive.

The first incident occurred at the Kalighat Metro station at 7:20 a.m. after a person jumped in front of a train moving towards Garia from Dakshineswar.

The motorman applied emergency brakes, but could not stop the train before it reached the spot where the person had jumped.

The rake was then reversed and power to the third rail was switched off before Metro Railway staff could get on the tracks to rescue the person.

Truncated services were run between Dakshineswar and Maidan and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Shahid Khudiram during this period.

Normal services could only be restored at 7:44 p.m.

The second attempt took place at the Belgachia station at 3.09 p.m. after a person jumped before another Garia-bound train.

The same procedure had to be followed.

However, it took longer as the person had died.

Truncated services were run between Girish Park and Shahid Khudiram stations while the tracks were cleared.

Normal services resumed at 3:56 p.m.

The Metro Railway’s Blue Line where the disruptions occurred is the oldest metro stretch in the country. It has no platform screen doors to prevent suicide attempts, unlike the other metro lines in Kolkata.

The Metro’s Blue Line is also the busiest and called the “lifeline of Kolkata”. It connects Kolkata’s northern suburbs to the city’s extreme south, carrying 6.5 to 7 lakh passengers daily.

Any disruption in service in this line, particularly during the monsoons, results in severe inconvenience to students, office-goers and others.

Over the years, Metro Railway has taken several steps to try and prevent suicides.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and Metro staff have been instructed to keep a lookout for people behaving in a strange manner after entering the stations.

Motormen also reduce speeds of trains before entering the platforms, so they may be able to control them better. However, this is not always possible.

–IANS

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