Singapore — A harrowing incident involving a girl on MRT track took place on Monday (Aug 2). A young woman, who climbed onto the railing of an MRT track at Yio Chu Kang MRT station and was seen leaning over in a dangerous position, appeared to have been successfully talked down by two SMRT staffers, whom netizens are now hailing as heroes.
The girl, who was wearing her school uniform, found herself in this precarious situation, and images and videos of this quickly spread online, drawing attention and concern from the public.
Fortunately, what could have been a tragic event was avoided.
On Tuesday (Aug 3), new photos of the incident emerged on social media, showing one male and one female staffer talking to the young woman, who was already seated with her back to the railing.
The male staffer, identified as Mr Effendi Hashim, is seen with his arm around the young woman as if to comfort her, as she has one hand over her eyes, and was perhaps in tears.
The female staffer has yet to be identified,
A person by the name of Aim Razcal posted three photos on Facebook, captioning it “The hero behind the scene.. Effendi Hashim my bro…”
Aim Razcal’s post has since gone viral, getting shared almost 5000 times.
Netizens have applauded the pair, even recommending that they be given medals at the coming National Day celebration.
“Tabek Hormat to both MRT Staff,” wrote one commenter on the Wake Up, Singapore Facebook page.
Others asked for bonuses or pay raises for the two staffers. 
At the time of the incident, train service on the North-South Line between Ang Mo Kio and Yishun MRT stations were disrupted at about 1.55 pm for about 25 minutes.
“The female commuter was subsequently brought to safety and apprehended under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act,” the police said.
The police added that she was also arrested for criminal trespass. Investigations are ongoing.
In a Facebook post on Monday, SMRT said that the police escorted the commuter back to the platform at around 2.10 pm, and she was not injured.
“Commuters on the platform activated the Emergency Stop Plunger and our staff immediately responded on site,” SMRT said.
Traction power, the electric supply to the train tracks, were turned off, and the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were called in immediately.
Shedding Light on the Mental Health Crisis: A Wake-Up Call from the Girl on MRT Track Incident
The harrowing incident involving the girl on MRT track is an alarm bell for Singapore to address the serious issue of mental health among youths. According to Dr. Sarah Tan, a leading psychologist, stressors such as academic pressure, societal expectations, and online bullying are prevalent among young people in Singapore. “It’s a call to action for everyone to notice and reach out to the young people in their lives,” Dr. Tan emphasised.
Key points include the urgent need for public education about mental health, better access to professional help, and removing the stigma associated with mental health disorders. Moving forward, we need to make mental health discussions commonplace, fostering an environment where struggling individuals feel comfortable seeking help.
Rethinking Safety Measures: How the Girl on MRT Track Incident Could Change Public Transport
The incident with the girl on MRT track has prompted a closer look at public transport safety. SMRT officials have confirmed they are reviewing safety protocols. “This incident has underlined the need for continuous improvement in our safety measures,” stated an SMRT representative.
Key elements of the safety review could include a reassessment of platform barriers, advanced surveillance systems, and more rigorous staff training. As we hope to prevent future incidents, the commitment to upholding and enhancing public safety is stronger than ever
/TISG
Read also: Girl climbs onto railing of Yio Chu Kang MRT track and leans over, possibly about to jump
Girl climbs onto railing of Yio Chu Kang MRT track and leans over, possibly about to jump