A security guard at the newly inaugurated Ragigudda Metro Station on Bengaluru Metro’s Yellow Line had a narrow escape on Monday morning after he accidentally fell onto the electrified tracks, allegedly during a 16-hour shift, the police said.
The incident occurred at 11.10 am when the 52-year-old guard was stationed at Platform 2, they said.
A swift action by another guard on Platform 1 prevented a potential tragedy, as he immediately activated the Emergency Trip Switch (ETS), cutting off the power supply. A passenger also rushed to help pull the guard back onto the platform.
Metro officials said that an incoming train was halted and services were briefly disrupted for six minutes. The guard escaped without injuries.
A Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) spokesperson told The Indian Express that the security guard suffered giddiness, which resulted in the accidental fall.
Sources said the guard had been on duty for nearly 16 hours with only a short break before reporting back to work. “He was relieved of duty following the incident, and an internal inquiry has been ordered to determine how such extended shifts were permitted. The station manager has also been questioned,” said a BMRCL officer.
The incident has raised questions about the working conditions of security personnel at Namma Metro stations.
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Several guards deployed through private security agencies and the Karnataka Home Guards reportedly said that deploying guards on long shifts is a regular practice, and many push themselves to work extra hours for additional income, as pay remains a sore point.
“Doing one shift gives us barely Rs 15,000 a month. If we manage two shifts — one day and one night — we can take home Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. Otherwise, survival is hard,” said a guard at a Metro station.
Sparks debate on need for own security force for Namma Metro
The Ragigudda episode has revived discussions on whether Namma Metro should have its own dedicated security force, similar to the Railway Protection Force (RPF). A proposal in 2019 to form a special unit under the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF) with over 1,300 personnel was shelved, citing feasibility and cost concerns. At present, security is handled by home guards and agency staff.
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The incident has also brought platform safety back into focus. Bengaluru Metro uses a third rail system, which carries high-voltage direct current (DC) — making accidental falls especially dangerous. A third rail system is a method of providing electric power to trains, typically used in urban rail and subway systems. It involves a continuous conductor, the “third rail,” placed alongside or between the tracks, which supplies DC to power the train.
Despite several previous accidents, most stations still lack platform screen doors (PSDs) or even basic protective railings.
So far, only two stations — Majestic and R.V. Road Interchange — have been equipped with safety barricades. The latter was fitted with new railings on August 20 to handle the surge in passengers on the Yellow Line.