Kolkata: Metro services were affected and temporarily suspended in Kolkata today evening after a fire broke out inside an AC coach of a train. As per reports, the incident took place when the train was running between Rabindra Sadan and Maidan metro stations. A number of passengers were taken ill after smoke was noticed in AC coach of the Kolkata Metro,Officials said.
Smoke was found coming out of the Dum Dum-bound metro around 5 pm soon after it left the Maidan station. The motorman stopped the train in the middle of the tunnel and the frightened passengers made a desperate attempt to get away since the smoke made it hard to breathe and it blocked visibility also.
The fire has been snuffed out with assist of fire hydrants and all the passengers on the affected train were safely evacuated by 6 pm. West Bengal Fire Service and Kolkata Police Disaster Management were there at the spot.
“A lot of smoke was detected soon the train left the platform. We understood since there is smoke, there must be fire somewhere. We switched off the power connection and took up efforts to douse the fire. We have rescued all the passengers and there has been no casualty,” Metro Railway CPRO Indrani Banerjee said.
Aparajita Rai, Additional Deputy Commissioner said, “There are no casualties, 16 people have been injured, all have been taken to SSKM Medical College. It was an accident, there was a small spark in the front portion of the metro.”
The services had been disrupted on the network due to the fire incident.
