On the second day following the devastating train collision involving a commuter line (KRL) at Bekasi Timur Station, the mangled KRL carriage has been meticulously cleared from the tracks. Gradually, the station, which had been eerily quiet, is beginning to regain its bustling atmosphere. Yet, amidst the return to routine, what truly remains are the indelible memories of those lost and the profound grief of those left to mourn. This tragic incident claimed 16 precious lives, and here we share some of their poignant stories and cherished recollections.
Radit’s Heartbreaking Farewell at His Wife’s Grave, a Victim of the Bekasi Timur Station Tragedy
Radit (36) bid his final farewell to his beloved wife, Harum Anjarsari (30), laying her to rest at TPU Cipayung, East Jakarta. Harum was one of the 16 victims who tragically perished in the collision between the KA Argo Bromo Anggrek train and a KRL at Bekasi Timur. Amidst his overwhelming sorrow, Radit recounted a week that was meant to be a joyous family occasion before his impending relocation to Tasikmalaya.
“We were supposed to start our trip yesterday,” Radit recalled with a heavy heart.
Harum, who had taken leave but still went to work to attend a company halal bihalal event, is remembered as a diligent worker and a devoted wife. Radit admitted to feeling a pang of guilt witnessing his wife’s tireless dedication. “She was stubborn, but in a positive way. She never wanted to stop working. I sometimes felt guilty, wondering why she had to work so hard,” Radit expressed. He added, his voice thick with emotion, “A good wife, so incredibly good. So good, truly a good wife.”
On the night of the accident, their last communication was when Harum messaged that she had arrived at Bekasi Timur Station. Moments later, Harum sent a chilling message that would become their final contact: “Sweetheart, the train crashed… it hit a car,” she wrote. After that, Radit lost all contact and frantically rushed to the accident site, searching for his wife across numerous hospitals.
Radit’s desperate search continued throughout the night. A glimmer of hope flickered when Harum’s phone was still active, but it was a firefighter who answered. Consumed by anxiety, he clung to the hope that his wife was safe. “I prayed that only her phone was there, and that my wife was already in the hospital,” he recounted. However, his agonizing search concluded in sorrow after Harum’s remains were identified at RS Polri Kramat Jati through DNA matching.
Despite losing his wife to an accident triggered by a stalled taxi on the tracks, Radit chose not to blame the circumstances. He viewed the tragedy as destiny. “It’s human to feel angry. But blaming the incident, to me, isn’t mature. Everything is preordained by God. Marriage, having children, even death – it’s all written,” he philosophized. What weighed most heavily on Radit’s conscience was a profound sense of guilt towards his wife’s family, feeling he had failed to protect Harum. “When you marry someone’s child, especially as a man, you’re always entrusted with their daughter’s care. I just feel guilty that I couldn’t protect her daughter, couldn’t protect my wife,” he lamented. Now, he faces the daunting task of raising their two young children, aged 7 and 3, without the mother who was once the heart of their family.
The Gripping Account of a Victim Trapped for 10 Hours in the KRL: Sleeping on the Deceased, Witnessing Fatalities
Endang Kuswati (40), a passenger in the women’s special carriage, endured a harrowing 10-hour ordeal, trapped amidst the wreckage. On Monday night, April 27, the KRL she was on was struck by the KA Argo Bromo Anggrek. “I received a photo from the press showing the victim still inside, weak and receiving oxygen, as she had been trapped since 9 PM,” stated Iqbal, recounting Endang’s terrifying experience.
Endang was finally evacuated on Tuesday morning, making her one of the last victims to be rescued. “She even slept on the rubble of people, because there were quite a lot of them, many below or behind her, some of whom had died,” Iqbal explained, relaying Endang’s traumatic narrative.
Sausan’s Ordeal: Thrown and Entangled in the Luggage Rack During the Train Collision
The collision between the KA Argo Bromo Anggrek and the KRL at Bekasi Timur Station left behind indelible stories from the survivors. Among them is Sausan (30), a KRL passenger bound for Tambun Station. “She was sitting on the left side. She didn’t know what was happening, just playing on her phone, when suddenly there was a loud ‘brak‘ sound. She felt disoriented, and the next thing she remembered, she was already up on the luggage rack where we usually put our belongings. She was stuck there,” Yuli explained at dr. Chasbullah Abdulmadjid Hospital in Bekasi City on Tuesday, April 28.
When her sister found her at the scene, Sausan was weak and disoriented, asking about her own condition and her belongings. Sausan sustained a fractured left arm and a laceration on her left thigh. “’I’m weak, Sis. Am I still alive, Sis? My bag, Sis, my phone, Sis?’” her sister recounted, mimicking Sausan’s distressed questions.
Kompas TV Editor-in-Chief Remembers Employee Lost in the Bekasi KRL Collision
Nur Ainia Eka Rahmadhynna (Ain), a dedicated employee of Kompas TV, was identified as one of the fatalities in the tragic train collision at Bekasi Timur Station. Yogi Arief Nugroho, the Editor-in-Chief of Kompas TV, extended his heartfelt condolences on Ain’s passing.
“Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. We, the large family of Kompas TV and the Kompas TV editorial team, have suffered an immense loss with the departure of our colleague, co-worker, friend, our sister,” Yogi stated at RS Polri Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 28.
Yogi described the deceased as an exceptionally helpful individual in the broadcasting process. Having joined in November 2015, Ain served diligently in the Production Support Department. “Finally, in the morning, we declared a crisis, preparing for the worst while praying for a miracle. But around 2 PM that afternoon, we received confirmation that our colleague, our friend, our co-worker, had passed away,” he conveyed, a solemn tone in his voice.
The Vibrant Spirit of Citra, a Jambi Migrant and Victim of the Bekasi KRL Collision: Always Cheerful
Nur Alimantun Citra (19), one of the young victims who died in the collision between the KA Argo Bromo Anggrek and the KRL at Bekasi Timur Station, is fondly remembered for her cheerful personality and caring nature towards those around her. “I’m so sad, truly sad. Because the deceased was such a cheerful person. And she was genuinely caring towards her friends. She would often ask, ‘Cath, what’s wrong with you?’ That’s why when I heard this news, I kept thinking there wouldn’t be anyone to ask me that anymore. No one would be that caring with me again,” Catherine lamented when met at RS Polri, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 28.
Riza (21), a friend from her university, was the last person to meet Citra directly before the unfortunate incident. Coincidentally, they were both headed to the same train destination, albeit on different routes. “So we were from the same campus, and we were going home together. Coincidentally, our train destination was the same, just different routes. So we had planned to go together from the start at campus, and we chatted for a while, even before getting on the train, we talked for a bit,” Riza shared, recalling their final, innocent conversation.
Summary
This article summarizes the impact and poignant stories of victims from