Polythene on metro line delays train services for 12 minutes

Train services resume after the airborne polythene was cleared from the line

Train services have been suspended for 12 minutes on the Dhaka metro rail due to a piece of polythene lying on the line between Uttara and Pallabi.

The incident occurred shortly after 5pm, and services resumed once the airborne polythene was cleared.

An official from Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, or DMTCL, security branch told bdnews24.com: “There was a slight technical issue between Uttara South and Pallabi stations, causing the temporary disruption.

“Everything is now back to normal.”

Deputy Inspector General of Mass Rapid Transit, or MRT, Police Siddiquee Tanzilur Rahman told bdnews24.com: "It was not a major incident. A large piece of polythene was blown onto the line by the wind.

“This resulted in a 12-minute suspension of trains heading from Uttara to Motijheel."

Following the disruption, passengers shared updates on the Traffic Alert group on Facebook.

Sifat, a passenger at the Secretariat station, who gave a single name, said at 5pm: “The train has been standing still for 10 minutes at the Secretariat station. I don’t know the reason, but there are a lot of people on the train. The headway time needs to be reduced.”

After the train resumed, another passenger posted: “At Pallabi, a passenger’s shawl got caught in the train, causing a hold-up on the metro rail platform.

“The train stood still just before Iftar time when everyone was rushing home! The train resumed after just a 10-minute delay. Thanks to the metro authorities for their swift action,” he added.