Kolkata: Metro services hit briefly after passenger jumps before train

Kolkata: Metro services on Kolkata’s busy North–South corridor (Blue Line) were briefly disrupted on Sunday morning after a passenger allegedly jumped in front of an approaching train at Rabindra Sarobar station, officials said.

The incident occurred at around 10.45 am when a middle-aged man entered the tracks as a train was approaching, prompting the motorman to apply emergency brakes. Metro authorities immediately cut off power supply on both Up and Down lines at the station to facilitate rescue operations.

Following the incident, services along the Dakshineswar–Birji stretch were suspended for nearly 50 minutes. During this period, truncated operations were run between Maidan and Dakshineswar stations to minimise inconvenience to commuters.

The injured commuter was taken to a nearby hospital after being retrieved from the tracks. However, officials said his condition and fate were not immediately known at the time of reporting.

Metro authorities confirmed that normal services resumed across the entire Blue Line at 11:33 am after the rescue operation was completed and safety checks were carried out.

According to Metro sources, the train involved was travelling from Shahid Khudiram towards Dakshineswar when the incident took place. The emergency response, including switching off traction power, is part of standard safety protocol whenever a person enters the track area.

Sunday’s disruption also once again highlighted recurring safety concerns along the Blue Line — Kolkata’s oldest metro route, where tracks remain exposed without platform screen doors, making it more vulnerable to such incidents compared with newer corridors.

Incidents involving commuters jumping onto the tracks have been reported repeatedly on the Blue Line in recent months and years, often forcing temporary suspension of services and causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers.

Earlier this week as well, another disruption was reported at Rabindra Sarobar station after a similar incident involving a passenger entering the tracks, prompting authorities to cut power and halt services briefly.

The Kolkata Metro’s North–South corridor is a key public transport lifeline for the city, carrying thousands of commuters daily between Dakshineswar in the north and the southern suburbs.

Even short disruptions during operational hours typically lead to crowding at stations and passengers shifting to buses, autos, or taxis.

Authorities have not yet released the identity of the individual involved in Sunday’s incident, and further updates are awaited regarding his medical condition.