Commuters in Kolkata faced significant disruptions to metro services this Monday, the first working day of the week, due to severe waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall. While some services are still operating, they are running at a crawling pace.

Services between Mahatma Gandhi Road station and Park Street halted, with multiple metro trains stranded at various stations across the network. Metro authorities have issued assurances that the issues will be promptly resolved, but commuters are already feeling the pinch, with many attempting to exit metro stations to find alternative transportation like buses and cabs to reach their workplaces.

The disruption has led to an increase in crowds at several stations, with the escalators at Maidan station reportedly closed due to overwhelming pressure from the throngs of passengers.

This latest disruption follows a similar incident two days ago. On Saturday afternoon, North-South Metro services (Dakshineswar to Kabi Subhash) were interrupted for nearly an hour when the drainage channel between the tracks in the tunnel suddenly filled with water. The incident, which occurred between Jatin Das Park and Netaji Bhavan stations from 3:40 pm to 4:35 pm, was attributed to a burst water pipe.

Metro sources explained that the concrete drainage channel situated between the two tracks, specifically between Jatin Das Park and Kalighat stations, became inundated. Officials highlighted the critical risk posed by a flooded drainage channel to the metro’s electrified third rail, which could lead to significant damage and widespread disruption. Consequently, services were suspended on Saturday as per standard metro operating procedures.

Metro workers and officials responded by disconnecting the power supply to the third line and commencing repair work. The situation was brought under control after approximately an hour of effort.