Two KL monorail incidents
Published on: Wednesday, April 01, 2015
Kuala Lumpur: Thousands of people rushing to work were caught in an almost standstill traffic near the Titiwangsa Monorail Station Monday, and many were stranded at several stations along the monorail service heading to Titiwangsa station. Passersby were cringing their nose as they attempted to get rid of the smoke smell that was still coming out of the burnt coach.A student, who only wanted to be known as Nur Athirah, 23, said she was late for her appointment as the jam delayed her father's arrival to pick her up at the station. ADVERTISEMENT "Look at the traffic, it is horrible. But I'm relieved that no one got hurt. I was here when the fire occurred and the firemen were really efficient in trying to get the fire under control, they managed to put out the fire in just about 30 minutes," she said as she flipped out her smartphone to take pictures of the burnt coach. Another spectator, Nava Amuthan, 24, who was on his way for a job interview, had to shift his appointment to another day as he was stranded at the station as well. "I was taking the train from Bandar Tasik Selatan, and when I got down at Titiwangsa, I got to know about the fire. I could see that the officers (firemen and policemen) were working with each other very well to control the situation," he said. A 61-year-old retiree who only wanted to be known as Ahmad, said the firemen managed to put out the fire within around half an hour. ADVERTISEMENT "I was about to get my breakfast at the warung nearby when I heard sirens. So I came to the bus station here to have a look and I saw firemen were attempting to put out the fire. And in just about half an hour, the fire was put out. I'm completely amazed by their efficiency," he said. The traffic started to ease at around 11 am, about an hour after the fire was put out.
ADVERTISEMENT
The fire broke out when a rubber tyre of a two-coach monorail caught fire at the Titiwangsa Station this morning causing the monorail service in the city to be temporarily suspended beginning at 8.50 Monday morning. The incident at about 8.30 am resulted in thick smoke enveloping the multilevel station.The fire also caused traffic jams on the road with many drivers being stranded there for more than an hour."I was stuck here for more than an hour since 9.30 am. Could not move. The road was closed...we had to use a small lane on the left side to continue the journey. I could see firemen trying to extinguish the fire," said a driver, Adnan Jahaya, 54. Meanwhile, the Head of the Sentul Fire and Rescue Station, Zahari Mohamad said the station received a call at 8.52 am and managed to control the fire half an hour later.Four fire engines comprising two engines from the Hang Tuah Station, one from Sentul and one more from Titiwangsa Station with 22 personnel were rushed to the scene.Zahari said the cause of the fire would be investigated but preliminary information revealed the possibility that it was caused by sparkes due to friction between the wheels and the rail.The temporary suspension of the monorail service was also due to the second incident where a four-coach train was stranded between the Imbi and Bukit Bintang stations due to technical problems.A rescue train was sent to the location and pushed the stranded train to the Imbi station before the passengers disembarked.The Rapid Rail monorail service resumed in the afternoon but operating on degraded mode due to faults of the signalling system.It was was earlier suspended following two incidents in the morning, one of which concerned one of the rubber tyres of a two-car train which caught fire at the Titiwangsa station.The fire which caused heavy smoke at the station was put out by the Fire and Rescue Department, according to a statement from Rapid Rail Monorail Line chief operating officer Abdul Hadi Amran.He clarified that it involved a two-car train, not a four-car train as earlier stated.The statement also mentioned that the second incident which prompted the suspension involved a four-car train which became stranded between the Imbi and Bukit Bintang stations due to technical problems.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
An earlier statement said that it involved a two-car train."Rapid Rail is carrying out an internal investigation into both incidents and apologised for the inconvenience caused," Abdul Hadi said. - Bernama