OKU Timur, KOTABARI.COM – In Desa Kotabaru, Martapura District, East OKU Regency, a tragic incident rocked the peace at approximately 1:15 PM today. A Putra Sulung bus with license plate BE 7037 FU, en route from Belitang to Jakarta, collided with a passenger train bearing series CC 201 83 40 from Rajabasa station to Kertapati station, Palembang.
In this harrowing incident, one fatality has been confirmed. The deceased, identified as Nazarudin Asrof, a passenger on the bus, hails from BK 16, Belitang Mulya District, East OKU Regency. Nazarudin Asrof was one of many passengers hoping to reach Java Island using the bus.
According to eyewitness Anton, a volunteer tasked with guarding the crossing, the tragic incident unfolded when the Putra Sulung bus suddenly stalled in the middle of the crossing, presumably due to engine failure. As the train approached, attempts to push the bus off the tracks were unsuccessful. Shouts and panic filled the air as several passengers attempted to flee the bus, which was stranded in the middle of the rails. Unfortunately, the collision was inevitable.
As a result, the bus was dragged approximately 100 meters from the point of impact, leaving behind a trail of destruction and panic. Reports indicate that around nine other passengers sustained serious injuries and were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for further treatment.
One survivor, Yono, from BK 10, Belitang, recounted the tense moments inside the bus when the accident occurred. In a traumatized state, he described how the bus suddenly stalled on the tracks, unable to avoid the oncoming train.
“I can’t describe exactly what happened. The bus suddenly died, and before I realized it, the train was already close,” said Yono, who is still shaken and suffered minor injuries from the accident.
As of 2:30 PM, the evacuation team is still working to clear the bus, which is sprawled across the railway crossing, while train passengers remain stranded at the scene, awaiting assistance and further investigation.
This accident serves as a reminder for relevant authorities to enhance safety at railway crossings and ensure the safety of passengers remains the top priority during travel.