09-06-2025
'She wasn't her cheerful self,' says grandma of Gerik crash victim
KUALA LUMPUR: Nur Fadila Farhana Muhammad Isma, one of the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who perished in the tragic bus crash in Gerik early this morning, had appeared uncharacteristically withdrawn just a day before the incident.
Her grandmother, Dayang Ismail, 68, recounted how the 21-year-old had seemed unusually quiet during a tahlil prayer gathering yesterday, held in memory of her late grandfather.
"She took many photos with family members, but spoke very little. We noticed she wasn't her usual cheerful self. No wonder she seemed lost in thought yesterday," Dayang was quoted as saying by Buletin TV3.
Dayang said she received a phone call from one of her children earlier this morning, informing her that Nur Fadila had been admitted to Ipoh Hospital. However, the family was initially unaware of how serious her condition was.
"It wasn't until midday that we were told she had passed away. I was shocked and heartbroken," she said.
Nur Fadila's remains are expected to be laid to rest in her hometown of Besut.
She was among 15 people killed when the bus they were travelling in collided with a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) along Jalan Jeli-Gerik near Tasik Banding, Perak.
The crash, which occurred at 1.10am, involved a bus chartered by UPSI students and a Perodua Alza. A total of 33 individuals sustained injuries.
According to the Civil Defence Force (APM), personnel from the Banun Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB) arrived at the scene at 2.11am to find the bus overturned and the Alza severely damaged.
Several victims, some with broken limbs and others with minor injuries, were rushed to Gerik Hospital for treatment.
It is understood that the UPSI bus had been travelling from Jerteh at the time of the crash.
Federal police Federal police have confirmed that a full investigation is underway.
