23-year old man jumps before train; Bengaluru Metro's Green Line services disrupted for nearly 50 mins

Jalahalli Metro station

A 23-year-old  male passenger jumped in front of an approaching Metro train at Jalahalli Metro station in an alleged suicide bid, disrupting Bengaluru Metro's Green Line ( Nagasandra -Silk Institute) services for nearly 50 minutes on January 5 evening.

Sharon, who hails from Alappuzha in Kerala and works at a factory in Abbigere, North Bengaluru, has suffered head injuries and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. Before jumping onto the track, he reportedly handed over his mobile phone to a friend who was at the platform no. 2.

According to Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), normal train services were affected on the Green Line between 7:12 pm and 8 pm. BMRCL officials said that services between Yeswantpur and Nagasandra were disrupted, leaving many passengers stranded.

Sources said train (coming from Nagasandra towards Silk Institute) had its loco pilot apply the emergency brake to decelerate the train. Later Metro employees disconnected the power supply to the 750-volt DC third rail system (live rail providing electric power to the train).

Shankar AS, executive director, operations at BMRCL, told Moneycontrol: "He fell between the track and the third rail. He survived and was rushed to a nearby private hospital."

"Four trains were held at other station platforms, and all the commuters were evacuated from the trains. Operations on the Green Line were carried out between Yeshwantpur and Silk Institute Metro Stations during this period. Normalcy on the entire Green Line was restored at 8 pm," said BMRCL chief PRO BL Yeshwanth Chavan.

On Monday, Metro operations in Bengaluru were halted for 15 minutes between 6:40 pm and 6:55 pm. This interruption occurred when a woman jumped onto a metro track at Indira Nagar station to retrieve her phone. The woman accidentally dropped her phone onto the track and leaped down to retrieve it. Following this, metro officials switched off the power supply.

Also, read: Bengaluru woman jumps onto metro track to retrieve phone, halts operations

Friday's suicide attempt has once again highlighted the necessity for Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) at Metro stations in Bengaluru. Experts say that PSDs, serving as protective barriers between the platform and the tracks, play a major role in preventing incidents such as suicides and accidental falls onto the tracks.

Synchronised with Metro coach doors, PSDs only open after the train comes to a complete halt. Metro corporations in Delhi and Chennai have already implemented PSDs, particularly at underground stations.

BMRCL officials said they will install PSDs at 12 underground stations along the Pink Line (Kalena Agrahara- Nagawara) as part of Phase 2. This is primarily aimed at reducing air conditioning costs. However, no decision has been taken on the installation of PSDs at existing stations.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro's busiest stations revealed; rolling stock shortage affects service frequency