Prabowo Personally Visits Victims of Bekasi Train Collision

In a swift response to a critical incident, President Prabowo Subianto personally visited the victims of a train-KRL collision at the Bekasi City Regional General Hospital (RSUD Kota Bekasi). His compassionate visit took place on Tuesday, April 28, just prior to his departure for a work visit to Cilacap, Central Java. During his time at the hospital, the President conveyed several crucial directives and insights, a summary of which is outlined below.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to the train accident victims came before his scheduled official engagements in Cilacap. “First and foremost, we all extend our deepest concern and profound condolences for the incident that occurred last night, the collision between the Argo Bromo train and the Commuter Line (KRL) in East Bekasi,” stated Pras to reporters. He emphasized that the President made a point to visit the victims at RSUD Bekasi that morning before heading out of town for his work agenda. Furthermore, Pras noted that President Prabowo also engaged in a direct dialogue with the hospital management. This discussion aimed to ascertain the specific needs for victim treatment and to assess the requirements for medical equipment within the hospital, underscoring his commitment to comprehensive care.

During his visit, President Prabowo Subianto personally assured that all victims of the tragic Argo Bromo Anggrek train versus Commuter Line (KRL) collision would receive proper medical attention. “Some have already been discharged, if I’m not mistaken, there are still a total of about 60 people… 54 people, and almost all of them have been handled well,” the President stated while at RSUD Kota Bekasi. Beyond medical care, he also made a firm commitment regarding financial support. “Yes, there will be compensation for everyone. Yes, okay,” Prabowo affirmed, ensuring that affected individuals would receive due recompense for their ordeal.

Beyond immediate relief efforts, President Prabowo Subianto used the occasion to highlight a critical nationwide infrastructure challenge: the proliferation of unguarded railway level crossings across Java. “In Java, there are 1,800 such crossings, some dating back to, I believe, the Dutch colonial era. That’s how many decades,” Prabowo noted at RSUD Kota Bekasi. Recognizing the long-standing safety risks posed by these crossings, the government is prepared to commit a substantial fund. “Yes, we will appoint the executors later. We estimate it will be approximately almost IDR 4 trillion, 4 trillion rupiah. For the sake of safety,” he declared, underscoring the significant investment towards improving railway safety.

Specifically addressing the situation in Bekasi, President Prabowo Subianto further elaborated on the issue of numerous unguarded railway crossings. “Broadly speaking, we observe that many of these railway crossings are left unattended, many are not guarded,” Prabowo stated after visiting the accident victims. He reiterated that for Java, a staggering 1,800 unguarded crossing points have been identified. In a proactive measure, the local government of Bekasi had previously proposed the construction of a flyover. “Because Bekasi is also densely populated. And the necessity for railway transport is very, very important, very, very urgent. So I have approved the immediate construction of a flyover directly with presidential assistance,” he added, signaling a critical infrastructure upgrade to enhance safety and efficiency in the bustling region.