KAI Daop 2 Urges Cianjur Residents to Avoid Railway Tracks After Fatal Accident

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Operational Area 2 has urged the public to avoid any activity on or near railway lines to prevent further fatalities, following a recent incident in Cianjur. The call comes after a resident was struck and killed by a train in Kertasari Village, Haurwangi District.

Kuswardoyo, Public Relations Manager of Daop 2 Bandung, stated on Tuesday that the victim, identified as Sopandi, was hit by the Siliwangi train on Monday while walking with his back to the oncoming locomotive. Despite the train driver repeatedly sounding the horn, the victim reportedly did not move aside or avoid the approaching train.

‘We will intensify public awareness campaigns to ensure compliance from communities living along the railway line, in order to prevent such undesirable incidents, including increasing vigilance when crossing unguarded level crossings,’ Kuswardoyo said.

Meanwhile, Aipda Teddy Firmansyah, Head of the Traffic Accident Unit at Bojongpicung Police, explained that the 52-year-old victim, a resident of Kampung Kondang, Kertasari Village, Haurwangi District, was fatally struck by the Siliwangi train travelling the Cipatat-Cianjur-Sukabumi route. The victim was walking along the tracks to inspect a water pipe that needed repair, unaware of the train approaching from behind from the Cipatat direction towards Cianjur. The impact threw the victim approximately 10 metres.

‘The victim was about to repair a water pipe located adjacent to the railway line. At the same time, the Siliwangi train was approaching from the opposite direction. It is suspected the victim did not notice the train’s arrival despite the prolonged sounding of its horn,’ Teddy Firmansyah said. The victim’s body was taken to a local community health centre for a post-mortem examination before being released to the family and buried near his home in Kampung Kondang.