Man pulls chain accidentally, Bengaluru-bound Memu delayed by 2.5 hours

Bengaluru: Memu passengers heading to Bengaluru protested at Bidadi railway station Sunday evening, triggered by more than just a routine stoppage. A series of events, beginning with a chain pulling earlier in the evening, delayed the train by almost three hours.Ashokapuram–KSR Bengaluru Memu was scheduled to reach Bengaluru at 5.05pm, after departing at 1.40pm. By the time it arrived at Hanakere station, the delay was just 17 minutes. Upon reaching Channapatna, the delay had nearly doubled, according to National Train Enquiry System (NTES).

At 4.17pm, a passenger accidentally pulled the chain, forcing it to stop at Channapatna station's platform no. 3. According to SWR, this led to the detention of several other trains, including a superfast express.

The delay worsened after a 12-minute additional halt at Channapatna, with the train reaching Bidadi at 5.36pm, over 1.5 hours late.In a video that went viral on social media, police officers were seen using force to control passengers agitating over the delays. "They blocked the train despite being informed that the issue would be resolved. As RPF and GRP staff were unavailable in Bidadi at the time, police were called to clear the track.

When one train is held up, the whole section gets further delayed," Shreyans Chinchwade, senior divisional security commissioner, RPF Bengaluru division, told TOI. Mohan Kumar, 23, from Bagalakunte travelling on the Memu, said passengers panicked due to lack of clarity. "Around 150 passengers across coaches started agitating. The station master was not accessible, and police pushed us when we asked questions," he said.After RPF staff arrived, legal action was initiated against the agitators, causing further delays. NTES data shows the Memu departed at 6.45pm, nearly an hour after arriving at the station. The train eventually reached Kengeri at 7.09pm, 2 hours 44 minutes late, and arrived at KSR Bengaluru at 7.40pm, far behind its scheduled 5.05pm timing.