A Moscow metro fire forced the evacuation of more than 300 passengers from train cars traveling between two stations on the purple line, police said Monday.
A short circuit in the track sparked the fire at 8:03 a.m. Sunday between the Tekstilshchiki and Vykhino stations, closing the stations and disrupting traffic on the line for nearly two hours.
More than 300 passengers, many on their way to and from Orthodox Easter services, were evacuated because of smoke. Three were hospitalized briefly with smoke poisoning, police said.
Police dispatched 155 officers to the scene, along with additional patrol units in the vicinity.
The damaged power rail was replaced and the train service was fully restored by 9:50 a.m.
No damage from the fire was reported.
But police said they would set up a special panel is to investigate the causes of the short circuit.
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