2 SMRT staff killed in accident near Pasir Ris station

The workers were undergoing on-the-job training at the time and were authorised to go on the track, SMRT says. They were part of a team sent to investigate an alarm from signalling equipment.

SINGAPORE: Two SMRT maintenance staff have died after an accident near Pasir Ris station, the transport operator confirmed on Tuesday (Mar 22).

"At around 11.10am today, there was an accident involving two SMRT maintenance staff along the track at a servicing point near Pasir Ris station," said SMRT spokesman Patrick Nathan in a statement.

"SCDF was immediately activated and they have confirmed that the two SMRT staff have passed away. We convey our deepest condolences to their families and will be providing support to them at this very difficult time," he said.

VICTIMS WERE UNDERGOING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING

The staff that died are Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26 and Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24. According to SMRT, both of them "joined the company in January 2016 and were undergoing on-the-job training at the time of the accident".

"(They) were part of a technical team that went down to the track to investigate a reported alarm from a condition monitoring device for signalling equipment. Permission to access the track was authorised," said Mr Nathan.

"Initial findings indicate that before the accident happened, the team was moving in a single file on the walkway beside the track, on the way to the location of the signalling equipment."

The brother of a signals officer who witnessed the accident told Channel NewsAsia that the signals officer was "traumatised".

Pasir Ris resident Francis Dorairaj, who was at the scene, expressed shock and disbelief. "Why were maintenance people on the track when the train was operating?" he questioned.

INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY

SMRT said it is assisting the Police in their investigations into how the accident happened. The Land Transport Authority has also said that it "will be be assisting with investigation into the incident".

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the transport regulator said it is "deeply saddened" by the deaths and where necessary, it will extend assistance to the victims' next-of-kin.

Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Transport, Sitoh Yih Pin told Channel NewsAsia that he is "sure that a proper and thorough investigation into the accident will be conducted".

"Speculation about the accident should be kept to a minimum. All of us will know the details of the accident once the investigation findings are ready to be released," he said.

Police said they were informed of the incident at about 11.15am. Upon arrival at the scene, they found two men motionless. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene, police said, adding that they are investigating the unnatural death.

TRAIN SERVICES RESUMED AT 1.56PM

Train services along the East-West Line were also disrupted for about 2.5 hours. Free shuttle bus services were available until service between Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris in both directions were resumed at 1.56pm.

Social media users reported seeing several people on the tracks before noon.

According to SCDF, it was alerted to the incident at Pasir Ris MRT station at 11.11am. A fire engine, A Red Rhino, two fire bikes, two ambulances, and three support vehicles were dispatched. SCDF confirmed that two men were pronounced dead at the scene.

An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 commuters were affected in the 2.5-hour disruption in train service, said the transport operator.

[HaKim-gszb]

i feel sad that the 2 workers who were hit by the train were still young and just worked at SMRT for just 2 months

[beezeedog]

The driver must feel so bad. Rest In Peace both of them. 😢

[fairytailideas]

I like how the residents said that it can't be help

[MS-cfrb]

"This is standard..." typical management response. Give orders and the lower ranking ones have no choice but to follow, at the expense of their own safety. Easy for them to say since they sit in their bloody office anyway.

[DaveKohProperty]

I am a property agent with Propnex now. My first job was with SMRT (about 15 years ago) as a technical officer. Technical staffs regardless of race all work together like brothers. May God give the family peace

[youngfadula]

If there was an accident or death, don't fucking complain about the damn disruption

[wangthree]

i was wondering why de hell the occ or control centre gave the train operator to drive in auto when they know that some maint people are working on tbe tracks ??

[raymondchew]

something very wrong! should thoroughly review all safety procedures. there is only 2 train operators, SBS transit and SMRT, get LTA and both train operators to audit each other on all safety procedures and most important the attitudes of work safety are almost important.

[krollpeter]

It all seems as if the most important issue for people is to find someone to blame.

[SuccessforLifester]

This should not have happened. Ridiculous

[Valeriesrandomness]

why is the workers there during train working hours? Because if it causes a breakdown, people are going to complain, so they deployed people down to investigate. Now that an accident's happened, ya'll are just dodging responsibility by saying it's their fault for being there?

[tadaisjaz]

Oml I feel so bad for them they are so young to die.. ☹️

[sgbuses]

Another accident occurred today, a collision between two SMRT trains. A few weeks before, the tunnels were flooded. Have SMRT learnt anything since?

[sweetysue]

Dangerous lah singpore i really dont want go at the country i live in singapore but this is so sad

[litlemisscuriious]

did the two man walked on tracks instead of the pavement? How can the supervisor not get hit if the pavement was not safe. my point is, how did they die? I'm curious.

[siskapriono]

sudah jalan takdirnya harus meninggal seperti ini... semoga saja amal dan ibadahnya di terima di sisi allah s.w.t dan di ampuni segala dosa2nya

[TransportFan]

The train who hit the two smrt staff was a C151 074/075

[aseth]

safe passage but 2 staff died? -.-"

[jacksonchen]

I also saw the accident When walking near D resort

[xiaomantou]

i saw a lot of train drivers play handphone