Three-day-old baby of train crash victim dies

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Under the scorching heat on Monday, the family of Slamet Purwanto who survived the train collision on Thursday buried their three- day-old baby in Gunung Putri public cemetery, just 15 minutes walk from their home in Bojong Gede, Bogor regency.

Her mother, Ida Nurhayati, who broke her left hand in the crash, was still in shock over the death of Retno Kartika Dewi, who was born by caesarean section right after the accident. Retno died late on Sunday due to respiratory difficulties.

"We had been looking forward to another daughter," said Slamet, 35, who already has three sons and a daughter. "But, we were only allowed to have her for a very short time."

Ida's water broke in the accident, although her baby was not yet due. The doctors at Siaga Raya hospital in Pejaten, South Jakarta, were forced to deliver the baby two weeks before the due date.

Due to her poor condition, the doctors transferred Retno to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for intensive treatment.

"The baby had a high respiratory rate commonly found in near- term babies and her lungs were not well-developed," pediatrician Jusuf Effendi explained.

Ida, a fish monger, had to stay behind at the Siaga Raya hospital until she was released on Monday morning to accompany Retno to her last resting place.

On that ill-fated Thursday afternoon, Ida, Slamet and their two younger children had taken the Bogor-Jakarta train to shop for fish Ida sells door-to-door in her neighborhood.

When it crashed into another train packed with commuters in Rawa Buaya, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, all four were injured but only Ida needed to stay longer in the hospital.

The accident injured more than 600 passengers. The government has pledged to cover all medical expenses.

"It was fate that led our family to grief like this," said Slamet, who works as a public minivan driver. "At least, we do not have to think about the medical costs." (003)