India’s Southern Railway Orders Probe After Sudden Escalator Reversal

India’s Southern Railway has ordered a technical and safety probe to find out why an overcrowded escalator at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station suddenly stopped and moved backwards on May 6, resulting in two women being hospitalized with minor injuries, The Times of India reports. A safety engineer is conducting a detailed inquiry, and records are also being sought from Johnson Lift and Escalator Co., which is responsible for the unit’s maintenance. The incident occurred shortly after the simultaneous arrival of several trains when many passengers attempted to board at once. Because the reverse movement remained slow, major injuries were avoided, railway authorities said. Preliminary findings show the escalator may have stopped after the emergency-stop button was accidentally pressed, causing the brake mechanism to slip and resulting in the escalator moving backwards.