Short circuit causes smoke at Kolkata's Esplanade Metro Station

A brief moment of panic gripped commuters at Esplanade Metro Station in Kolkata around 3:30 pm on Monday after smoke was spotted billowing from a room beneath the escalator leading to the Blue Line platform. According to officials, the incident was likely caused by an electrical short circuit in a room housing various electrical components.

The smoke was first noticed by Metro staff, who immediately activated the station's internal firefighting system. The Metro Fire Department and Railway Police arrived promptly, and the situation was brought under control within minutes. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not spread beyond the confined room.

Despite the swift response, the sight of multiple firefighters and security personnel led to panic among some passengers, who were unaware of what had happened. Confusion spread briefly as announcements were made and movement was restricted in parts of the platform during containment efforts.

Metro authorities confirmed that train services remained unaffected throughout the incident. They reassured the public that safety protocols were followed efficiently and the incident did not pose a serious threat.

The station resumed normal functioning shortly after, with officials reviewing electrical systems to prevent similar occurrences in the future.