Gerik Crash: Final Farewell For 13 UPSI Students At Masjid Hadhari

JERTIH, June 10 (Bernama) -- The remains of 13 more Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who were killed in a crash involving a bus and a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on the East-West Highway (JRTB) near Gerik, Perak, arrived safely at Masjid Hadhari here for funeral prayers.

All hearses carrying the bodies from the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Perak, arrived at the mosque compound at 2.55 am, and the prayers were completed by 3.20 am.

More than 3,000 congregants, comprising family members, friends and local residents, joined the funeral prayers led by Terengganu’s Information, Da’wah and Syariah Empowerment Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi.

After the prayers, the remains were transported to their respective hometowns for burial.

The atmosphere at the mosque was filled with grief and sorrow, with sounds of sobs from family members, some of whom had to be assisted as they were overwhelmed with emotion over the loss of their loved ones.

The remains of the other victims, Wan Nur Suhaila Wan Muhammad and Muhammad Adib Hazim Halim, were laid to rest earlier.

Wan Nur Suhaila was buried at the Kampung Amer Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Raja, Besut, at 11.37 pm, while Muhammad Adib was buried at the Kampung Pasir Badak Muslim Cemetery in Hulu Besut at 12.15 am. Both were transported from Gerik Hospital.

In the crash that occurred between 12.30 am and 1 am, 15 UPSI students died when a chartered bus travelling from Jerteh to Tanjung Malim overturned after colliding with a Perodua Alza on the JRTB near Tasik Banding.

The accident also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver and his assistant, as well as the driver and three passengers of the Alza.

-- BERNAMA