Escalator mishap: Rlys orders probe

T'puram: Southern Railway has ordered a technical and safety probe after a major tragedy was narrowly averted at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station when an overcrowded escalator suddenly moved backwards on Wednesday.Railway authorities directed a safety engineer to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and examine all possible causes. A report has also been sought from Johnson Lift and Escalator Company, which is responsible for maintaining the station's escalators.The incident occurred on the escalator connecting platforms 4 and 5 shortly after the arrival of Vanchinad Exp and Intercity trains, when many passengers attempted to board simultaneously.According to railway officials, the escalator abruptly stopped under heavy load and then suddenly reversed direction. Two women sustained injuries after falling during the panic and were shifted to hospital. Officials confirmed that their injuries were minor.Railway authorities said a major accident was avoided because the reverse movement of the escalator remained slow and passengers did not fall onto others.Preliminary findings suggest that the escalator became overloaded during the rush hour and may have stopped after the emergency button was accidentally pressed. Officials said the sudden stoppage possibly caused the brake mechanism to slip, resulting in the escalator moving backwards.The railways maintained that all six escalators at the station undergo regular maintenance and that the affected escalator had recently been serviced.