A power disruption on Pune Metro’s line 1 Sunday afternoon not only brought train services to a temporary halt but also triggered panic among commuters at the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) end, raising concerns over crowd management and passenger safety during sudden operational disruptions.
However, the disruption also created difficulties for commuters inside and around stations. Later sharing his experience on social media, Shekhar wrote, “Everyone suddenly rushed towards the escalators. Some people fell, and one person’s foot got stuck. There were screams, people running around and complete chaos. The security guards and Metro staff kept asking passengers not to panic, board calmly, and avoid overcrowding the lifts, but no one seemed to listen. A major accident was narrowly avoided”. It was a Sunday and there was a crowd ahead of Ganeshotsav. “The panic and rush could have easily led to a serious accident. He expressed gratitude towards the security guards and Metro personnel who did their best to manage the crowd. As regards the Pune Metro preparedness, Sunday’s episode demonstrates how a relatively short technical disruption can create a secondary safety challenge if a large crowd begins to panic. For commuters, the incident is a reminder that rushing towards escalators, lifts or exits during an emergency can increase rather than reduce the risk. At the same time, consistent announcements, visible deployment of security personnel and clearly defined crowd-control procedures are crucial to ensuring that passengers know where to go and what to do when normal Metro operations are interrupted.
The main incoming power supply to the Range Hills substation, provided by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), was fully restored at around 1.50pm; officials said.
Who was at the PCMC end when the disruption took place, it caused confusion and a rush among passengers, according to passenger Shekhar P. Commuters need to behave more responsibly,” Shekhar said.
