New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS): Hundreds of passengers were left stranded when a technical fault hit Delhi Metro's Blue Line between Karol Bagh and R.K Ashram Marg stations, resulting in overcrowding on the platforms.

Large crowds piled up at platforms all along the busy route that links Dwarka in west Delhi with Noida and Vaishali in Uttar Pradesh.

"Metro services of Line 3 (Dwarka-Noida City Centre) and Line 4 (from Yamuna Bank to Vaishali) were running in three short loops following a technical problem in the overhead electrification line," said a Delhi Metro official.

The crowds were thick at Rajiv Chowk, the busiest Delhi Metro interchange through which the Blue Line passes.

"The trains are plying from Dwarka Sector 21 to Karol Bagh Metro station and Barakhamba Metro station to Noida City Centre and Vaishali. As the technical snag is between R.K.Ashram Marg and Karol Bagh Metro station the trains run on single loop from Karol Bagh to Barakhamba Metro station and not vice versa," the official said.

A Metro official said regular announcements were made at all the stations about the technical problem and delayed running of trains.

The 49 km Blue Line that covers 43 stations in some of the most populous parts of the capital, is the longest Delhi Metro network.