TEMPO.CO, Ngawi - State railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) of Madiun operational area is continuing its effort in evacuating the series of trains after the Sancaka train accident on April 6. The Yogyakarta-Surabaya route train was hit by a trailer truck on Friday night at kilometers of 215+8 or between Kedungbanteng – Walikukun stations, Ngawi.

“Our priority is to recover the railway so it can be operable,’’ said KAI Madiun chief of public relation Supriyanto, on Saturday, April 7.

The recovery effort includes deploying a number of cranes. Three derailed trains and locomotives have been removed from the sides of the railway. As of press time, the evacuation process, which is done by KAI officers and other related parties including the police, still continues.

“Hopefully, it will return to normal this afternoon,’’ Supriyanto said.

The crash between Sancaka train and trailer truck happened at a crossroad that has no railway crossing gate at around 6:20 pm. The train was heading to Surabaya while the trailer truck recklessly crossed it and hit the locomotive.

The accident has killed a machinist and injured several others. The south railway line is also totally inoperable due to the event.

Ngawi Traffic Police Chief Rukimin said his institution is investigating into the Sancaka train accident. A number of witnesses are asked for testimonies including the trailer truck driver.

Nofika Dian Nugroho