Bengaluru residents take truck rides back home after metro snag brings city to halt
A technical snag at Cubbon Park Metro Station disrupted Bengaluru Metro's Purple Line during peak hour. The nearly four-hour breakdown stranded commuters, pushed them to take trucks to go back home.
Thousands of Bengaluru commuters were left stranded during peak evening hours after a technical snag disrupted services on the Purple Line of Namma Metro. As stations overflowed with passengers and roads became choked with traffic, viral videos showed frustrated commuters hitching rides on lorries and trucks just to get home.
The disruption began after a technical fault was detected in a train at Cubbon Park Metro Station around 6:30 pm. The snag affected the Purple Line, one of Bengaluru Metro's busiest corridors, which connects several key parts of the city, including the IT hub of Whitefield.
According to the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), train operations were severely impacted after the fault, which is suspected to be linked to the third rail system. While services continued on some stretches, operations remained suspended between Majestic and MG Road, affecting multiple stations along the route.
The breakdown occurred during one of the busiest commuting periods of the day, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Many were asked to deboard trains and exit stations as metro authorities worked to address the issue.
As commuters spilled onto city roads in search of alternate transport, chaos quickly followed. Auto-rickshaws and cab services were overwhelmed by the sudden surge in demand, leaving many with limited options to reach home. Viral videos circulating on social media showed passengers climbing onto lorries and trucks for rides, highlighting the scale of the disruption and the desperation of those caught in it.
The incident also triggered a political debate. Reacting to the situation, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya took a swipe at the state government, posting on social media: “First-world tech talent. Third-world governance. That is the story of Bengaluru.”
Meanwhile, BMRCL said its operations and maintenance teams were working on a war footing to restore normal services. The corporation urged passengers to cooperate and make alternate travel arrangements until the issue was fully resolved.
The disruption once again highlighted Bengaluru's dependence on its metro network and the cascading impact a single technical fault can have on thousands of daily commuters. For many stranded passengers, Tuesday's journey home became an ordeal that extended far beyond the metro station.