Chennai, Dec 2 (NationPress) A train on the Blue Line of the Chennai Metro encountered an unexpected halt within a tunnel close to Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G. Ramachandran Central Metro early Tuesday morning. This unfortunate situation compelled passengers to traverse nearly 500 metres on foot to reach safety, following a sudden suspension of services due to a technical fault.

Witnesses reported that the train, en route from Chennai International Airport to Wimco Nagar, abruptly came to a stop between the Central Metro and High Court stations. The incident occurred approximately 500 metres from the stretch near Central Railway Station, within the underground tunnel.

Many commuters described how the lights flickered momentarily, leaving the train immobilized and creating a sense of panic among passengers. They felt 'trapped' for nearly ten minutes, with no information about the situation.

Footage taken from inside the train depicted passengers gripping handrails and looking out in confusion, eagerly awaiting updates from the control room. Eventually, an announcement was made, informing all onboard that the train was unable to move and they would need to proceed on foot to the nearest station, High Court, via the emergency walkway within the tunnel.

Chennai Metro Rail personnel and technical experts promptly arrived to assist with the evacuation. Passengers, including women and the elderly, were carefully guided along the emergency path for about 500 metres until they reached the High Court Metro station, where additional staff were positioned to manage the situation.

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) later verified that the disruption stemmed from a technical issue, potentially linked to a brief power outage. The technical teams managed to resolve the problem, after which operations on the Blue Line resumed.

In an official announcement on X, CMRL stated: 'Metro train services between Airport and Wimco Nagar Depot on the Blue Line have returned to normal. Operations between Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Metro and St. Thomas Mount on the Green Line are also functioning as scheduled. We apologize for the inconvenience caused.'

The breakdown, which persisted for over half an hour, caused considerable distress to passengers, many of whom were on their morning commute. Although normal services have resumed, CMRL has initiated an internal review to ascertain the exact cause of the malfunction and to avert similar occurrences in the future.