The Kolkata Metro may have suspended its services after the earthquake panic on Wednesday, but Namma Metro carried on as usual and proved that the Metro infrastructure can withstand earthquake up to 7 on the Richter scale. The high intensity earthquake (8.9 on the Richter) that hit the Sumatra coast was felt in many cities across the country. The Kolkata Metro suspended its operations for 50 minutes - trains were stopped mid-journey and passengers were asked to get down.
In Bengaluru, however, it was business as usual. “The operations have been on as usual. The Metro stations and infrastructure can withstand earthquakes up to 7 Richter,” informed a supervising official at the Trinity Metro station. Nevertheless, BMRCL has kept its staff on high alert. “Since the tremors were mild, we continued our operations. However, the staff at all the stations have been asked to stay on high alert,” said BMRCL spokesperson B.L.Y.Chavan.
Some passengers were in the trains and alerted by their families. “We had just started off from Ulsoor when I got the call from my son about the tremor. I didn’t feel anything, but we disembarked just to be on the safe side,” said Susmita S., a commuter, who was on her way to M.G. Road from Ulsoor. Unconfirmed reports about the Metro’s closure by some TV channels however added to the panic. BMRCL quickly issued a clarification. “These are all rumours; we did not cancel our operations. However, we have asked our staff to be on high alert,” confirmed Mr Chavan.