This is a problem in metros all over the world. There have been several
instances of blind people falling into the gap between the train and the
platform in London, some coming out with severe injuries. Some years ago, a
blind person with a guide dog in London fell on to the tracks, ignoring his
guide dog's attempts to push him away. The metro system in London's stations
announces frequent warnings to passengers to mind the gap between the train
and the platform, as also the system in Delhi it appears. Besides, the voice
announcement systems in trains have this announcement as well.
As blind persons travelling independently on the metro, it is perhaps unfair
to blame the metros for the gaps. As we are aware of these gaps, it is our
responsibility to use the cane and negotiate these gaps. The gaps between
the train and the platform vary in London as well. During my initial days in
London, In response to my question about uneven gaps between the train and
the platform, an underground staff member informed me that these gaps are
inevitable due to curves in some stations. These gaps are apparently not a
result of faulty planning, but essential in some stations due to their
layout in order to protect trains.
Geetha
-----Original Message-----
From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Vikas Kapoor
Sent: 01 March 2014 12:02
To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issuesconcerning
thedisabled.
Subject: [AI] Visually impaired girl escapes accident at metro station
Visually impaired girl escapes accident at metro station
Sowmiya Ashok
The gap between the platform and a Delhi Metro train got the better of a
visually impaired commuter on Thursday evening as she was about to board the
train at the Nehru Place metro station. Sweety Bhalla, a government
employee, who was entering the train found her legs collapsing into the gap
- which was not exceptionally large. But for two male co-passengers, who
hurriedly pulled her up, she could have suffered grievous injuries. The
incident happened around 5-20 p.m.
"I put a leg forward thinking I will step on the train but my left leg went
in completely into the gap between the platform and the train. It was so
unexpected, I couldn't understand and when I was pulled up I felt bruises on
my right ankle, knee and elbow," she said. Fortunately for Ms. Bhalla, her
co-passengers helped her up before the train's doors shut on her.
A resident of Karol Bagh, Ms. Bhalla travels from Jhandewalan to Nehru Place
and back on a daily basis. "The gaps at all stations should be uniform so
that no untoward incident happens. This is especially dangerous for young
children who can fall into the gap while boarding or de-boarding the train
at rush hours," she said. "The problem is that in some places the gap is
smaller and at others it's larger. There should be some uniformity," she
added.
Ms. Bhalla said similar incidents have happened twice before at Rajiv Chowk
and Udyog Bhavan stations. "There is a lot of rush especially at stations
such as Rajiv Chowk. The Metro should have segregated entry and exit points
into trains so it helps manage the crowds in an orderly manner."
Ms. Bhalla, who suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, which has rendered her
blind since birth, was part of a committee that did an external audit on the
first line of the Delhi Metro that connected Welcome and Kashmere Gate.
"I was part of a 'disability committee' that provided inputs to the Delhi
Metro on how to make stations friendly for Persons with Disability. We had
then reviewed three stations," she said.
Following Thursday's incident, she rang the helpline number of the Delhi
Metro and was told that she will be contacted after the footage from the
station is reviewed.
A Delhi Metro spokesperson said that at the point of frisking, Ms. Bhalla
was asked by CISF staff if she needed assistance to reach the train but she
declined because her colleague had accompanied her to the station. "We do
make regular announcements asking passengers to mind the gap between the
platform and the train. The passenger had called the helpline number but it
takes some time to review the footage," said the spokesperson.
However, Ms. Bhalla denies Delhi Metro's version that she was asked if she
needed assistance.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/city
Vikas Kapoor,
Mobile: (+91) 9891098137
Skype Id: dl_vikas
Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of
mobile phones / Tabs on:
http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessind
ia.org.in
Search for old postings at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
To unsubscribe send a message to
[email protected]
with the subject unsubscribe.
To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please
visit the list home page at
http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Disclaimer:
1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the
person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity;
2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails
sent through this mailing list..
Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of
mobile phones / Tabs on:
http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Search for old postings at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
To unsubscribe send a message to
[email protected]
with the subject unsubscribe.
To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please
visit the list home page at
http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Disclaimer:
1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the
person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity;
2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent
through this mailing list..
