A safety guard on the newly inaugurated Ragigudda Metro Station on Bengaluru Metro’s Yellow Line had a slim escape on Monday morning after he by accident fell onto the electrified tracks, allegedly throughout a 16-hour shift, the police stated.
The incident occurred at 11.10 am when the 52-year-old guard was stationed at Platform 2, they stated.
A swift motion by one other guard on Platform 1 prevented a possible tragedy, as he instantly activated the Emergency Journey Swap (ETS), chopping off the ability provide. A passenger additionally rushed to assist pull the guard again onto the platform.
Metro officers stated that an incoming practice was halted and companies have been briefly disrupted for six minutes. The guard escaped with out accidents.
A Bengaluru Metro Rail Company Restricted (BMRCL) spokesperson instructed The Indian Categorical that the safety guard suffered giddiness, which resulted within the unintentional fall.
Sources stated the guard had been on responsibility for practically 16 hours with solely a brief break earlier than reporting again to work. “He was relieved of responsibility following the incident, and an inside inquiry has been ordered to find out how such prolonged shifts have been permitted. The station supervisor has additionally been questioned,” stated a BMRCL officer.
The incident has raised questions in regards to the working circumstances of safety personnel at Namma Metro stations.
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A number of guards deployed by non-public safety companies and the Karnataka Dwelling Guards reportedly stated that deploying guards on lengthy shifts is an everyday apply, and plenty of push themselves to work further hours for added earnings, as pay stays a sore level.
“Doing one shift offers us barely Rs 15,000 a month. If we handle two shifts — sooner or later and one night time — we will take house Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. In any other case, survival is difficult,” stated a guard at a Metro station.
Sparks debate on want for personal safety power for Namma Metro
The Ragigudda episode has revived discussions on whether or not Namma Metro ought to have its personal devoted safety power, much like the Railway Safety Power (RPF). A proposal in 2019 to type a particular unit underneath the Karnataka State Industrial Safety Power (KSISF) with over 1,300 personnel was shelved, citing feasibility and value considerations. At current, safety is dealt with by house guards and company workers.
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The incident has additionally introduced platform security again into focus. Bengaluru Metro makes use of a 3rd rail system, which carries high-voltage direct present (DC) — making unintentional falls particularly harmful. A 3rd rail system is a technique of offering electrical energy to trains, sometimes utilized in city rail and subway methods. It entails a steady conductor, the “third rail,” positioned alongside or between the tracks, which provides DC to energy the practice.
Regardless of a number of earlier accidents, most stations nonetheless lack platform display screen doorways (PSDs) and even fundamental protecting railings.
To this point, solely two stations — Majestic and R.V. Highway Interchange — have been outfitted with security barricades. The latter was fitted with new railings on August 20 to deal with the surge in passengers on the Yellow Line.