Escalator reverses at Andheri station, passengers hurt

MUMBAI: In a freak incident, an escalator started moving in the reverse direction, leading to a scare among passengers who also suffered minor injuries as they lost balance at platform No. 3 of Andheri station, on Monday evening.
A commuter, who underwent the scary experience, highlighted it on social media. "I had taken the escalator on platform No. 3 (Vile Parle end) around 6.15 pm when the escalator began to reverse for at least 10 seconds. It probably came to a halt after someone pressed the emergency button," tweeted Amey Save.
Save mentioned several commuters ended up with injuries and called for action against the maintenance departemnt.
WR's spokesperson said, "There was some issue with the motor's coupling system. However, the escalator stopped immediately after a series of other protections triggered in."
A senior WR official said, "Ideally, if there is a breakage in the belt or drive chain, the emergency brakes should be activated without a time lag of even a second. In this case, the escalator began to reverse due to gravitational force after it stopped its ascendant movement, which should not have happened." WR has identified 17 escalators with a similar issue. An official said motors that control the emergency braking system had been replaced in four escalators, and they would be replaced in the rest, too, within four days.