In Loving Memory Of...C Magenthiran

6 die, 5 injured in express bus crash

RAWANG: Five passengers and the driver of a double-decker express bus died and five injured after the bus skidded, hit the divider and toppled at Km443 of the North-South Expressway near Rawang Monday morning.

Police said the accident occurred at about 5.30am after the double-decker bus, carrying 34 passengers from Changlun, Kedah, went out of control.

Those who died at the scene are, Md Zaher Mohamad , 33, C. Magenthiran, 26, Mohamad Fauzi Awang, 57, Muhammad Ismail, 27, Mohd Yusril Zakaria, 27, and driver Zulkhibri Md Saad, 35, but who was resting at the time of the accident.

Magenthiran was the only one not from the lower deck. He was thrown out of the bus.

(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/13/nation/20090413111550&sec=nation)

All the newspapers of 14/04/09 more or less carried the same headlines and the same news. it was a few lines on what happened, who died and who didnt. it was merely a column or a page among many. it was just something that many people would have read, shook their heads about and moved on to the next news. the faces of the 6 people who had tragically lost their lives on that day wouldnt have meant anything to them. i may not know anything about 5 of those people but there was one in that group who more than just a face in the papers.

C Magenthiran was more than just a casualty. He was a son, a brother, nephew, cousin and friend.

He was a son who made his father so proud that his dad couldnt stop talking about him and making examples of him when he spoke to other kids.

He was a brother whom his siblings looked up to and probably awaited his return home everytime come holiday or festive season.

He was a nephew; whom uncles and aunts proudly spoke about to friends and whom they compared their children to and wanted their children to be.

He was a cousin, whose company was always appreciated among those his age, and never without a smile for the younger ones.

He was a friend who made efforts to travel miles just to attend engagements and weddings. A friend who visited and kept in touch.

Most of all, he was a person, who was loved and was going to be missed by many. He was just a 26 year-old, who had a whole life-time ahead of him. He would have had hopes and dreams. Something to look forward to and something to look back on. One split second, turned his world and those in it, upside down. He was taken away, just like that...

Who should we blame? or what? The bus driver with a bad record? The company who hired him? The bus and its conditions? the roads? The weather? Fate?

Truth be said, it doesnt really matter. It doesnt matter who is proven wrong. It doesnt matter what happened. Someone, somewhere did something wrong. But, it doesnt matter. Because the fact is, he is gone and nothing in the world can bring him back. And what we wouldnt give to bring him back to his family, friends and loved ones, to put a smile where his loss had left tears...

Time will heal the wound but it can do nothing about the scar...

One split second is all it takes to change life forever. Cherish every moment with those around us...

In dedication to and loving memory of C Magenthiran, a cousin I wished I had known better

(A moment of silence...)