Gas Balloons on Overhead Line Briefly Halt Metro Rail

Metro rail services in the capital were temporarily suspended after multiple gas balloons became entangled in the high-voltage overhead power line near the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area of Dhaka University. Operations later resumed after the objects were removed.

According to a responsible source from MRT Line-6, the issue was detected around 6:40am on Sunday (28 June) when a sweeping train identified several gas balloons hanging from the overhead wire in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture adjacent to Dhaka University station.

Following detection, authorities initiated immediate removal measures under operational safety procedures. The clearing process took around 10 minutes and train movement returned to normal afterward.

MRT Police Control Room wireless operator Md Masud Rana said the incident occurred in the Raju Memorial Sculpture area beside TSC after gas balloons drifted onto the metro rail’s high-voltage electric line.

He added that removal work was completed around 7:00am, allowing metro services to resume.

Dhaka Metro Rail operates through an overhead catenary electrification system where foreign objects can interrupt power supply and trigger automatic safety responses. In such situations, train movement remains suspended until clearance and system verification are completed.

Similar incidents have occurred repeatedly in recent years, involving kites, sky lanterns, plastic materials and clothing becoming entangled in metro overhead infrastructure. Previous disruptions were reported in Kazipara, Karwan Bazar and Uttara sections of the network.

Metro authorities have repeatedly urged people to avoid releasing balloons, flying kites or launching lanterns near metro corridors, warning that such activities can disrupt operations and create safety risks.

//DBTech/DJ/MI//