Panic prevailed at the recently opened Puzhuthivakkam MRTS station after 17 passengers, including women and children, were trapped inside a lift due to a sudden malfunction on Sunday night.
The incident occurred at 10.45 p.m. when the lift, which connects the platform and concourse, came to an abrupt halt midway. The passengers initially called their relatives over phone and later reportedly raised an alarm, following which station staff rushed to the spot and alerted maintenance personnel. The Fire and Rescue personnel in Velachery were alerted. Upon the receipt of information, they quickly reached the spot.
A coordinated rescue operation was carried out, and all 17 persons, including eight women, five men and four children were safely evacuated after nearly 30 minutes. No injuries were reported.
The Puzhuthivakkam MRTS station is among the facilities inaugurated only a few weeks ago when the MRTS services extended between Velachery and St Thomas Mount and the incident has raised concerns over the safety and maintenance standards of the newly commissioned infrastructure.
