Rail services connecting the Northeast to the rest of the country faced a major disruption early Friday morning. A high-stakes rescue operation was launched at New Alipurduar railway station after a man climbed a high-tension overhead electric pole, forcing authorities to cut power to the 25,000-volt lines. The incident began around 5:00 AM when local residents spotted an unidentified individual perched atop an electric mast that supplies power to the main railway line. Realizing the life-threatening danger, locals immediately alerted the railway authorities.
The response was swift. On-duty railway personnel, the Government Railway Police (GRP), and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) rushed to the scene. To prevent a fatal accident, the power supply to the overhead traction was disconnected, bringing all train movement in the section to a complete standstill.
The individual, later described as mentally unstable, initially resisted all pleas from the police to descend. The situation necessitated the intervention of the fire and emergency services. Following a tense 90-minute coordinated effort, two firefighters scaled the pole and successfully brought the man down to safety.
The disruption had a direct impact on commuters, with at least three trains detained at New Alipurduar station during the standoff.
Satyendranath Pal, Officer-in-Charge of the New Alipurduar GRP, expressed relief following the rescue, noting that the man’s lack of response while atop the pole had created a highly volatile situation. The man was taken into custody by the GRP for questioning, though his identity remains withheld. Power was restored shortly after the rescue, and train schedules have since returned to normal.
