Security tightened after Metro suicide

The Dubai Metro system was disrupted when a man committed suicide by throwing himself on the tracks — the first suicide to hit the generally secure system.

The suicide has prompted authorities to increase the length of metro barriers.

The young Indian man, who worked as a driver and lived in a labour accommodation, had reportedly consumed alcohol before sneaking onto the tracks by climbing the barrier near one of the emergency exits.

Dubai Police Deputy Commander-in-Chief Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina said that the incident occurred on Monday in the area parallel to Shaikh Zayed Road and Jumeirah Lakes.

He added that the Dubai Police and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)had formed a team which rushed to the scene and launched an investigation. He said the incident was discovered when alarms sounded.

He stressed that the metro was highly secure but the barrier at the particular point where the man threw himself was relatively low compared to other parts.

He said the RTA had prepared a technical report on the incident, due to be delivered to the Dubai Police, stating that the authorities would take sufficient preventive measures to increase the length of barriers and close all gaps.

Investigations were underway to ascertain the reasons that led the Indian to commit suicide, he said. The dead man’s roommate informed the police he was missing the day after his death, which helped police identify the victim.

Hundreds of passengers were affected when metro services, in particular in the Nakheel, Rashidiya and Jebel Ali areas, were disrupted on Monday morning when the incident took place, with RTA announcing on Twitter that the metro was back to normal operations later that day.

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