kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK Kolkata, March 24 — Commuters at Howrah Metro Station faced significant disruption on Tuesday afternoon after the station gates were abruptly shut for over 20 minutes without any prior announcement, triggering confusion and chaos during one of the busiest hours of the day.

Passengers attempting to enter the station were left stranded as all entry gates to the platforms were suddenly closed. With no immediate clarification from authorities, anxiety grew among the swelling crowd, which included office-goers and daily commuters. The lack of timely communication further worsened the situation, as speculation began circulating among passengers about a possible fire incident at Mahakaran Metro Station, believed to have caused disruptions in train services.

Metro authorities eventually made an announcement approximately 25 minutes later, informing passengers that train services would be delayed. Commuters were also advised not to purchase new tickets until further notice. However, those using smart cards had already made their way toward the platforms, resulting in heavy overcrowding inside the station premises.

The around 12:39 pm, a train departed from Mahakaran toward Howrah Maidan and was expected to reverse direction to operate services toward Sector V. This led to further delays, with the next train expected to arrive close to 1 pm. Eventually, a train reached Howrah station at 12:51 pm, offering some relief to waiting passengers. However, entry gates were once again temporarily closed to manage the overwhelming crowd and prevent further congestion.

The disruption caused severe inconvenience to hundreds of commuters, many of whom were left frustrated by the lack of timely information and prolonged waiting times during peak hours. Metro officials later stated that services on the Green Line had resumed normal operations from 12:37 pm onward, though the exact cause of the disruption remains under investigation.

The incident has raised concerns about crowd management and communication protocols within the metro system, especially during emergencies, as authorities continue to look into the причины behind the sudden halt in services.