Kolkata Metro fire: 16 passengers fall ill due to smoke

The train was going towards Dum Dum Metro station from Kavi Subhas station in Kolkata when the mishap happened. Passengers who were in the first and second compartment of the ill-fated train had a torrid time. Help appeared nearly 26 minutes after the fire broke out, according to reports. 

Police officials from nearly Park Street and Skakespeare Street station rushed to the spot soon. 

Many passengers were hurt as they tried to smash the glass windows to go out of the AC compartment in a state of panic. That lead to some passengers getting ibruises. The train had barely left the station when fire broke out. The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained. 

Metro authorities assisted the passengers to gradually come out of the metro compartment by walking over the track. Before that, they had disconnected the power supply of the third rail. 

According to passengers, the helpline numbers of Metro Railways didn't work and no one was to be seen initially which increased the panic situation manifold. 

Senior police officials including Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, additional police commission Javed Shamim went to the spot to get a firsthand report of the situation. Fire brigade DG Jagmohan too reached the station. 

Metro Rail was only operating between Dumdum to Central and  Tollyguange  to Kavi Subhas after the fire broke out.