Scores of commuters on Delhi Metro's Yellow Line had a harrowing experience on Tuesday after a technical glitch on a section of the corridor left many of them stranded inside halted coaches on tracks or on crowded platforms. Train services were hit around 9.32 am due to breakdown of the overhead wire (OHE) at Sultanpur station, leading to tripping of power supply in the section, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials said.
Many commuters who got stranded inside coaches of halted trains before they were evacuated, took to Twitter to express their anger and frustration. They also shared pictures and videos of people walking on the tracks, overcrowded platforms and packed escalators.
Gurgaon resident Jatin Takkar, who regularly takes the Yellow Line to his office near Central Secretariat, said, "I got stuck in a train for nearly 50 minutes. We had to eventually walk on the tracks to reach the platform."
The snag left commuters hassled as trains were temporarily run in two loops -- between Huda City Centre and Sultanpur and between Samaypur Badli and Qutub Minar.
There was no train movement between Sultanpur and Qutub Minar stations. Chhattarpur station falls between Sultanpur and Qutub Minar.
"Metro Services Disrupted at Yellow Line.Waiting For 1 hour," tweeted @shahbaznewton.
Metro Services Disrupted at Yellow Line.Waiting For 1 hour.#DMRC #Yellowline @OfficialDMRC pic.twitter.com/r5Q8tiPGSi
— Shahbaz Khan (@shahbaznewton) May 21, 2019
"Something got hit to metro train, probably electric wire and then powerful emergency brakes were applied by driver. We were locked inside the metro with no AC for 10 min. We were evacuated after 30 min. Thanks DMRC for evaluation," wrote another Twitter user @Ish-Chandra, and shared a picture of commuters walking on tracks towards a station platform.
Gaurav Rangnani, a software developer in a private company, who was on his way to Noida from Gurgaon, said he had "waited for nearly three hours" in the chaos, and could not enter the overcrowded Qutab Minar metro station.
Meanwhile, some passengers claimed being "charged exorbitantly" for sharing auto-rickshaw rides between Qutab Minar and Sultanpur metro stations.
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"I had to alight at Sultanpur and then take an auto-rickshaw to Qutab Minar. We were five passengers in the vehicle and each had to cough up Rs 100," claimed Tairas Tope, a retired government official.
Cyril Mathew, also wrote on Twitter, "Chaos and crowds as metro services b/w Chattarpur & Sultanpur metros conks off. Autowalas hayday fleecing willing customers. #DelhiisDMRC. DMRC is Delhi."
Chaos and crowds as metro services b/w Chattarpur & Sultanpur metros conks off. Autowalas hayday fleecing willing customers. #DelhiisDMRC. DMRC is Delhi. pic.twitter.com/sh17SeCWKl
— Cyril Mathew (@musingmalayali) May 21, 2019
Here's how other commuters reacted on Twitter:
Delhi police Department on Road due to Heavy traffic from past 4hrs as #metro technical snag at yellow line. No cabs available, took E-rickshaw, shared auto and bus to reach qutub minar @DelhiMetro_ @dtptraffic #trafficJam pic.twitter.com/FGgvkCnKMv
— VISHAL BANSAL (@VBansalofficial) May 21, 2019
#DelhiMetro services still not resolved. People got stucked. pic.twitter.com/2wSn6Weehs
— Harsh Baweja (@Harshbaweja_in) May 21, 2019
Stranded frm past 3hrs due to #metro technical snag at yellow line. No cabs available, took erickshaw, shared auto and bus to reach qutub minar where people are stranded walking on the roads, autowalas asking for Rs 200 per person for three-four km ride. @DelhiMetro_ @dtptraffic pic.twitter.com/1FA6r46X4g
— Sangeeta yadav (@Sangeeta_Yadavv) May 21, 2019
Hell weather with hell metro@DelhiPolice @DelhiMetro_ @dtptraffic @ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/UG0akp2JO7
— Chowkidar Akhil Anand (@Akhil_Anand06) May 21, 2019
Glitches faced by #DelhiMetro. Delay on services. People travelling on trucks to reach asap to their offices. Don’t you think they should be asked to go back to their homes? What do you think about the behaviour of organisations towards their employees? @9changes_com pic.twitter.com/SITBQif1ta
— Anamika Manhas (@anamikamanhas89) May 21, 2019
Delhi metro today's adventure pic.twitter.com/BcnZwqNU95
— shubh mohanty (@shubhmohanty) May 21, 2019
Weirdest #DelhiMetro experience today. People are waking on metro tracks. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/E6THS77ZXi
— Vishal Toshiwal (@vishaltoshiwal) May 21, 2019
Nearly three-and-a-half hours after the glitch, end-to-end services were partially restored, with trains plying between Qutub Minar and Sultanpur stations with lower frequency and in another 30 minutes, normal services resumed, the officials said.
Yellow Line Update
Normal services have now resumed. Inconvenience is regretted. Please allow for some extra time in your commute till the bunching of trains eases. https://t.co/Nnqw2VvmIE— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) May 21, 2019
The DMRC constantly updated the status of the disruption and rectification on its social media platforms to inform commuters.
Feeder bus services were made available to stranded commuters between Qutub Minar and Sultanpur stations.
The 48.8 km-long Yellow Line has 37 stations and has an average daily ridership of about seven to eight lakh.Â
(With PTI inputs)