Ten seconds to disaster: LRT passenger recounts horror crash

 

- NSTP/ASWADI ALIAS

KUALA LUMPUR: For one 22-year-old insurance agent, taking the LRT has become second nature as it is her main mode of transportation to and from work.

However, the lass who only wanted to be known as Nor Wahida had a hunch that something was amiss last night.

That sense of foreboding proved accurate. Only a few moments later, two LRT trains collided each other along the Kelana Jaya Line.

Her daily routine would see her board the train from the KLCC station before disembarking at Masjid Jamek.

Yesterday, however, she sensed something amiss while she was at the KLCC station platform. She said a train arrived at the platform but it didn't open its doors for passengers.

"It remained at a standstill for 10 minutes and I couldn't see anyone inside. I felt as if something was off but I dismissed such thoughts," said the Sarawakian lass.

She said five minutes after the stationary train departed, hers arrived.

"Again, I was overcome with a sense of dread. After the commuters boarded, the train doors remained open for about 15 minutes. Usually, they would stay open for 15 seconds tops," she said.

Nor Wahida said when the doors eventually closed, the train had moved for only about 10 seconds when a loud crash ensued and the passengers were thrown off their feet.

"It all happened so fast. It felt as if the train had rammed into something, It shook as it came to a stop.

"Those who were seated were mostly thrown against the windows or squashed against the person next to them.

I was slammed against the window. My right chest and back are bruised," she said.

Nor Wahida said passengers who were standing took the brunt of the impact as they were flung to the floor.

"I was seated in the last coach and still felt the impact. I couldn't imagine how hard the impact was for those up in front," she said.

After eventually coming to their senses, some passengers tried to pry open the train doors.

"The doors wouldn't open despite more and more people working together in an attempt to open them," she said.

Nor Wahida said rescuers arrived on the scene not long after, but it felt like an eternity.

"Those who were lightly injured were asked to evacuate first. Those with worse injuries were asked to sit tight and wait for medical personnel to arrive."

Being among the relatively lightly injured, Nor Wahida joined others in walking along the dark underground tunnel to the platform. She said the scene along the way was something she would not wish to see again.

"There was a lot of blood. We saw badly injured people carried out on stretchers," she said.

Nor Wahida said upon reaching the platform, she provided all details to RapidKL staff before taking an e-hailing ride home.

"I'm not the kind of person who panics easily but even until today, I'm still trembling. I barely got any sleep.

"I never imagined that I would be involved in an accident like this. I think it will be a while before I work up the courage to board another train." - NST