Bengaluru’s Namma Metro recorded 59 track-related incidents since 2012

Bengaluru metro has recorded 59 track-related incidents over the past 14 years, including suicide attempts, suicide deaths, accidental falls and unauthorised track access, according to data from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL).The figures, covering the period from 2012 to 2025, have come under renewed focus following the death of a passenger who allegedly jumped in front of an approaching train at Huskur Road Metro Station on the Yellow Line on Monday, once again intensifying demands for platform screen doors (PSDs) across the network.The BMRCL data shows that 31 cases involved unauthorised track access, 16 were suicide attempts, eight were passengers falling onto the tracks, and four resulted in suicide deaths.Past incidentsThe first such incident on the Namma Metro network was recorded in 2012, when a 16-year-old first-year student allegedly jumped in front of an approaching train at M.G. Road Metro Station at around 8.35 p.m.The number of incidents has risen over the years as the Metro network has expanded and daily ridership has increased.Suicide attempts reached their highest level in 2024, when eight cases were reported. The number fell to five in 2025, while two attempts were recorded in 2021 and one in 2019. Suicide deaths were reported once in 2012, twice in 2024 and once in 2025. Accidental falls onto the tracks were relatively few in the early years but increased to three cases in 2022, followed by two each in 2024 and 2025. Unauthorised track access accounted for more than half of all incidents. Such cases increased from four in 2021 to six in 2022, peaked at eight in 2023, before declining slightly to seven in 2024 and five in 2025.While in 2026, according to officials two suicide-related incidents have already been reported in July this year, including Monday’s fatal incident at Huskur Road Metro Station.The Huskur incident follows several similar tragedies on the Bengaluru Metro network in recent years. On December 5, 2025, a 38-year-old engineer died by suicide after jumping in front of a Purple Line train at Kengeri Metro Station. Earlier, on August 3, 2024, a 57-year-old man died after jumping before a Green Line train at Doddakallasandra Metro Station. On March 21, 2024, a 19-year-old law student died after jumping onto the Purple Line tracks at Attiguppe Metro Station.Bengaluru Metro track-related incidents (2012–2025)Total incidents: 59Break-up of incidentsUnauthorised track access: 31Suicide attempts: 16Passengers fell onto tracks: 8Deaths by suicide: 4In 2026, two suicide-related incidents were reported in July, including the fatal Huskur Road Metro Station incident.Platform screen doorsThe latest death has once again revived the long-standing demand for the installation of platform screen doors, which create a physical barrier between passengers and the tracks and open only when trains arrive.However, BMRCL has no immediate plans to install PSDs across its 96-km operational Metro network. Officials have maintained that retrofitting existing stations with platform screen doors is technically challenging as it would require extensive structural modifications, integration with signalling systems and precise alignment with train doors.An official said, “It would be technically challenging and the cost of upgrading all operational stations is substantial and is therefore not being considered at present.”Instead, BMRCL has introduced steel safety barricades at several high-footfall stations, including Majestic Interchange, M.G. Road, Indiranagar, Benniganahalli and RV Road, to discourage passengers from entering the track area while allowing safe boarding and alighting.Looking ahead, the Metro corporation has proposed installing platform screen doors at 177 stations, including existing operational stations, as part of the Detailed Project Report for the proposed Hebbal–Sarjapur Metro corridor (Phase 3A). The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the Union Government.(If you are in distress or having suicidal tendencies, please reach out to these helplines: TeleMANAS at 1-8008914416/ 14416, NIMHANS at 08026685948, 9480829670 or SAHAI at 080 25497777, +91-9886444075)