Operations on the Green Line of metro were stopped for nearly 50 minutes on Friday morning after an 18-year-old boy jumped from the platform onto the tracks at National College station as a train was pulling in.
Fortunately, he did not come in contact with the power line. He was also fortunate that the loco-pilot applied the emergency brakes.
The youth, a resident of Basavanagudi, suffered severe head injuries and is being treated at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences where doctors have declared him out of danger. “Had his body touched the third rail system (the line beside the track that supplies power to the train), he would have been electrocuted,” said an official.
BMRCL officials immediately cut off power supply to the tracks and suspended train operations. “There were three home guards at the station when the incident took place. One of the guards immediately pressed the emergency tripping system, which cuts off power supply to the third rail line,” said a BMRCL official.
The youth was rescued and shifted to Victoria Hospital, and then to NIMHANS. “Doctors have done the requisite tests and have declared him out of danger. He’s recovering well,” said K. Annamalai, DCP (South). The incident took place at 11.21 a.m.; services resumed by 12:09 p.m.
This is not the first time that a commuter has jumped onto the tracks. In March 2012, a 16-year-old pre-university student died when he jumped from the platform and came under the wheels of a metro at M.G. Road station.
(People in distress can call Arogya Sahayavani on 104 for help)
Chief Minister calls on youth
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy rushed to NIMHANS to talk to the teenager. Initial investigations reveal that the youth worked as a tailor at his mother's shop in Basavanagudi. He had failed to clear his SSLC exams. During the interaction, he told Mr. Kumaraswamy that he had no intention of ending his life. He was not aware of what happened at the moment.
Mr. Kumaraswamy advised him to understand the concern of the parents. In a statement released to the media, the Chief Minister said it was not unusual to see students and parents under pressure during the exam season. “During this time, school/colleges and parents have to create a stress-free environment for students. Similarly, students must take the advice of their parents and teachers,” he said.
Passengers demand platform screen doors
Passengers are demanding that BMRCL install platform screen doors at metro stations in Phase I. These doors, which open only when a train stops at the station, have been planned for the underground section of Phase II.
“These doors are required on the elevated corridor only when the loading capacity of the metro station is at its maximum. Currently, all metro stations, including Majestic Interchange, have more than enough space to accommodate all the passengers,” said Ajay Seth, MD of BMRCL. “The stations will be further decongested once all the trains have six coaches.”
BMRCL will be counselling its security staff to help them ensure that passengers do not cross the yellow line on the platform, and remain at the designated boarding spots. “Crossing the yellow line on the platform is prohibited. Three security personnel are deployed on each platform to caution passengers when they cross the line before arrival of a train,” said a BMRCL official.
