Wind puts brakes on Violet Line, hundreds stranded
New Delhi, July 5: Commuters on the Violet Line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corp (DMRC) had a tough time reaching their destinations on Thursday when, forced by wind, a portion of the railing broke away and fell on tracks near Lajpat Nagar, obstructing the run of the trains.
The DMRC attributed the mishap to wind and rain that lashed the city briefly in the evening and resorted to run trains in short loops between Nehru Place and Escorts Mujeser (Faridabad), and between Central Secretariat and Kashmere Gate.
The railing portion fell on track at around 4 p.m. on the stretch between Jangpura station (underground) and Lajpat Nagar station (elevated).
"A portion of railing on the ramp (where train comes out from underground Jangpura Station towards Lajpat Nagar) fell on track that goes towards Faridabad around 4:05 p.m. due to wind/rain impact.
"As a result, the train approaching towards Lajpat Nagar was put on hold," the DMRC said in a statement.
Commuters stranded inside the train had to vacate and walk along the verge of the track to reach the Lajpat Nagar Station platform, where they had to opt for alternative mode of transport.
To remove the obstruction, the overhead electrification was turned off between Central Secretariat and Nehru Place, it said.
It was not before 5:45 p.m. that the movement of trains could begin on the single line running from Nehru Place to the Central Secretariat.
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BJP to retain Assam, win Bengal; NDA to emerge strong in TN, Kerala, Pondy: Pradhan
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said the BJP would retain power in Assam, while expressing confidence that there would be a change of government in West Bengal, citing people’s continued faith in PM Narendra Modi and the party.
Asserting that NDA is likely to return to power in the union territory of Puducherry, he expressed confidence that the BJP-led alliance would emerge strongly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The counting of votes for all five Assemblies—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and Assam—will take place on May 4.
Polls were conducted in a single phase in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu, while West Bengal saw two phases of polling on April 23 and 29.
On April 9, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry went to the polls, while Tamil Nadu voted on April 23.
“Beyond exit polls, all of us who worked in the election campaign this time in the five states (four states and one union territory) are confident that the BJP will retain power in Assam and that, for the first time in a long period, West Bengal is heading for a major change,” Pradhan said.
Speaking to reporters, the union education minister said there is significant anti-incumbency against the TMC government in West Bengal due to alleged misgovernance, appeasement politics, and corruption.
“The people of West Bengal are reposing their faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the policies of the BJP and the leadership of the state BJP. I am confident there will be a change of government in West Bengal,” he added.
Pradhan said that, in all probability, the NDA (All India N R Congress–BJP alliance) will retain power in Puducherry.
“In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, I think we are all confident that our alliance will emerge strongly,” he added.
Several exit polls on Wednesday predicted a thumping victory for the BJP in Assam and a clear edge for the party over the ruling TMC in West Bengal, while projecting a return of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu and a comeback by the Congress-led UDF in Kerala after 10 years.
However, some pollsters predicted a big win for the TMC in West Bengal and a hung House in Tamil Nadu, with actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK emerging as a spoiler for the DMK. Almost all forecasts indicated a return to power for the AINRC-led NDA government in Puducherry.
