Hundreds of passengers had a narrow escape on Thursday when a Dum-Dum bound rake of the Kolkata Metro Railways caught fire between Rabindra Sadan and Maidan Railway stations on Thursday evening.
The train was stuck in the tunnel several meters before the platform, and the billowing smoke made the passengers breathless.
Some tried to break the windows and jump out. Finally, when the panic-stricken passengers were rescued from the tunnel, many broke into tears. More than a dozen of people have been admitted to State-run SSKM hospital.
“We have been able to rescue all the passengers. There has been no casualty,” said Indrani Banerjee, CPRO Metro Railways. She said the fire broke out at about 5 pm and the control office was informed immediately. Power supply on the tracks was disconnected to prevent further damage.
Some of the passengers who went through the ordeal, however, said that there was no announcement from Metro authorities when the train was stuck in the tunnel. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said the authorities did not respond as quickly as they should have.
Kolkata Metro which connects northern parts of the city to its southern fringes ferries about six lakh passengers daily.
