A Technical problem in the panel system that receives signals and regulates train movement led to chaos and confusion at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in South Delhi on Saturday.

As a result, at least 25 trains, including Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express, were running late.

The problem in the panel system was developed when a JCB machine, being used for digging earth at a construction site near the railway station tore the cable connected to the panel system at two places. “The cable is cut at two places and we cannot receive signals now. But we are trying to correct this,” a railway official present at the site said.

According to officials and passengers at the station, trains were held up since 10.30 am and there was no improvement in the situation till Saturday afternoon.

Trains, both leaving and arriving in Delhi, were delayed — and some were held up for long at the platforms.

Sweat beaded all over his face, Abhimanyu Nair said he had been waiting for about three hours but his train — Mangala Express — was nowhere in sight. The train was expected to reach the station at 1.28 pm, and Newsline met him at around 4 pm. “I am waiting here since 1 pm for my father who is coming from Kerala,” Nair said.

Railway officials, however, maintained trains were running only one-and-a-half hours late.

Shereena Joseph, waiting to receive her sister coming from Thiruvananthapuram said her sister had rung up from the train. “She said it is held up at some place outside the Nizamuddin station and she has been in the train for more than two hours,” Joseph said.

... contd.