New Delhi, August 13: Exactly a month after the mishap at Metro’s Zamrudpur construction site, a Metro train got derailed near a Dwarka station on Wednesday afternoon. No one was reported injured.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials said 34 passengers were in the train when four wheels of the leading coach of a train travelling from Dwarka Sector-9 to Yamuna Bank were derailed. The train travelled around 30 metres beyond the burst point (where the actual derailment occurred).
The incident took place at 3.19 pm, when the train had just left Sector-9 station.
Metro has suspended the train operator after “prima facie” observations found that the derailment was caused due to the driver’s negligence, DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said.
While the derailed train stood on the track as rescue operations were carried out, several trains from Dwarka to Janakpuri had to be cancelled as only one line was operational for over three hours.
Result: stations on Line 3, which carries most passengers of the three Metro lines, were crowded with stranded commuters throughout the afternoon.
“We were stuck inside the train at Dwarka Sector-12 for nearly 45 minutes; the train was finally terminated at Dwarka station. Now, there are no autorickshaws or any other mode of transport to get me home in East Delhi,” Subroto Mandal told Newsline at Dwarka station.
Rajiv Chowk and Janakpuri West stations were the worst hit, and Metro officials had to restrict entry of commuters and sale of tickets at the stations for a while.
“The driver started the train on manual mode and crossed the signal at danger,” DMRC’s Dayal said. “As a first step, the train operator has been suspended and a high-level committee of three officers of the rank of general manager has been constituted to probe the incident.”
There was no serious damage to the Permanent Way, overhead traction or the train as the front wheels went less than six inches off the track, DMRC officials said. The train has been sent to Najafgarh Depot for further checks.
–Agencies