Incident at MRT

July 20, 2006 in Uncategorized

I take the MRT going to work. This morning at the Cubao station, I witnessed how a young girl, about four years old, was nearly dragged by the train.

I was just coming off the escalator when the train gave its warning beep before the doors swished shut. On other days, I would have gone through the ‘barely an opening’ and forced myself in. But not today. Today I woke up early and in no hurry. I just stood back, maintaining a good step away from the yellow platform, enjoying the blaring music from my XDA.

Then my eyes widened as three feet away from me, a young girl’s hand got stuck on the train’s door. His father was pulling her hand to no avail. “Naku,” I said. “Aandar na ang tren. Makakaladkad kayo.” The guard was whistling loudly, everybody else was frantically waving at the train, willing it to stop. But the train kept on going, towing two people in tears.

Too horrified to watch, I looked the other way. A dreadful picture is already forming in my head. My knees are buckling. I felt sick…Then the train stopped. I whirled around and saw the man hugging her child, constantly blowing at her injured hand. The father knew a broken hand is better than anything so he pulled with all his might. What a relief. Thank you Lord, for saving that child.

All the way to the Taft station I was pondering on this incident. Whose fault was it? How could it be prevented? What if that was my child? I’m not taking Lance to MRT. Not until MRT’s security features are fail-safe.