A tense atmosphere erupted near the city’s busy Indiranagar Metro Station on Thursday evening as an unknown person allegedly sprayed a substance outside the station and ran away, causing panic among commuters and pedestrians around the city’s bustling Indiranagar Metro Station.
This was the scene of an incident when hundreds of people were using the metro to return home, prompting an immediate security response from the city’s largest metro rail operator, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
In the initial report, it happened around 7:30 PM close to Indiranagar Metro Station, which falls in the Purple Line corridor between Whitefield and Challaghatta. It is one of the busiest stations on the Namma Metro network in Bengaluru, which serves thousands of commuters every day from the city's eastern tech and business districts.
Witnesses said an unknown man suddenly sprayed a substance in the outer premises at the station and quickly left the area. A cloud-like haze or smoke seemed to take over the area, and people who were around said they had no idea what it was.
The unexpected event was so startling that commuters were afraid. The commuters were scared and covered their noses and mouths and walked away from the affected area in fear. Videos and eyewitness accounts on social media indicated people were confused and unsure of the substance and whether there was any health concern.
The substance is not being identified as dangerous, but metro security personnel immediately responded and assessed the situation, as well as the people involved.
We do not know what motive drove the act, the officials said. Investigators are trying to determine whether it was a conscious effort to incite panic, a prank, or an isolated act involving a non-hazardous substance.
Panic gripped commuters at Indiranagar Metro Station, one of the busiest stations on Bengaluru's Namma Metro network, after an unidentified person allegedly sprayed an unknown substance outside the station premises on Thursday evening before fleeing the scene.
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BMRCL security teams at the station increased surveillance and searched for the suspect following the incident. CCTV footage from the metro station and nearby locations was being looked over by security personnel to find the person involved and their movements.
The incident briefly disrupted the normal atmosphere around the station, and many commuters expressed concerns about safety in public transportation hubs. Bengaluru metro stations are equipped with sophisticated security and surveillance systems, and a police presence is high, especially at Indiranagar, MG Road, Majestic, and Baiyappanahalli.
Suspicious events in crowded public places are treated with great care, and the potential risks are taken seriously, security experts say. It is a matter of studying evidence and witness accounts (video footage) to determine what substances were used and why the suspect was trying to do so.
BMRCL officials have warned the public not to disseminate false information and that all security measures are in place. Anyone who witnessed or had information about the incident is invited to come forward and help in the investigation, they said.
As the search for the unknown man continues, commuters are urged to be vigilant and immediately call metro authorities and security personnel to report any suspicious activities. Further details are expected to emerge once the ongoing investigation and CCTV analysis are completed.
