Early Tuesday morning turned into a scene of panic for hundreds of daily commuters when a Chennai Metro Blue Line train, heading towards Wimco Nagar Depot from Chennai International Airport, abruptly lost all power and screeched to a halt deep inside the underground subway tunnel between Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Central Metro and High Court stations, trapping everyone on board in complete darkness.

With lights, air-conditioning and ventilation systems shutting down simultaneously, passengers reported a rapid rise in temperature and stuffiness inside the coaches. Many began banging on doors and windows while others used mobile phone torches to illuminate the carriages. For almost ten agonising minutes, there was no communication from the driver or metro control room, heightening fears of a more serious technical failure or even a fire.

Mobile footage circulating widely on social media captured the fear on commuters’ faces as they clutched handrails and tried to peer into the void outside. Elderly passengers and those with children were particularly distressed. Finally, an emergency announcement instructed everyone to remain calm, open the doors manually, and evacuate by walking along the narrow service path beside the tracks to High Court station, roughly 500 metres ahead.

Also Read: Chennai Reels Under Torrential Rains; Andhra on High Alert as Cyclone Ditwah’s Remnants Persist

Under the faint glow of emergency lights and guided by metro staff wielding flashlights, passengers formed disciplined single-file lines and cautiously made their way through the tunnel, stepping carefully to avoid live rails and cables. Women held children’s hands tightly, office-goers carried laptops and bags overhead, and several commuters later described the experience as “claustrophobic and terrifying” despite the orderly evacuation.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited later issued a statement confirming the disruption was triggered by an unexpected power outage and technical fault. Services on the entire Blue Line and interconnecting Green Line sections have since been fully restored. Authorities tendered an official apology for the inconvenience and stated that a high-level technical inquiry has been ordered to pinpoint the exact cause and ensure stricter preventive protocols for passenger safety in future.

Also Read: Sengottaiyan Joins Vijay’s TVK a Day After Quitting as AIADMK MLA