#trending: Video of commuters rushing to free wheelchair user stuck in MRT platform gap moves netizens, some question accessibility of stations

SINGAPORE — After a woman's wheelchair got stuck in the platform gap at Botanic Gardens MRT Station on Monday (Jan 2), fellow commuters quickly rushed to her aid.

In a video shared by TikTok user "sakil1511", at least six people can be seen gathered around the woman, who is holding on to another passenger behind her for support.

Several more are seen holding the doors of the train to prevent them from closing, while others work together to free the front caster wheels of the wheelchair from the gap.

Once the wheelchair is freed, a fellow passenger quickly wheels the woman into the train carriage. Other commuters who are not boarding the train wait in front of the door to confirm that the woman is fine before dispersing.

The video has amassed 220,300 views and 6,800 comments from online users touched by what they saw, praising the commuters for their kindness and "good Singapore spirit".

A TikTok user who appeared to be the wheelchair user herself said: "Thank you all for helping me. God bless you all 🙏🙏🙏".

However, the incident raised questions about accessibility in MRT stations, with other wheelchair users pitching in to share their perspectives.

One commented: "SMRT, please do something (about) the track's in-between gap. I'm a wheelchair user myself."

Another said: "I was in (a) wheelchair before in Japan... When I needed to use the train, the staff would get ready with a ramp to push me in and out of (the) train."

Mr Ng Chan Cheok, SMRT's head of Circle Line,  told TODAY on Friday that a commuter had pressed the passenger emergency communication button at the Botanic Gardens MRT Station on Monday at about 4.40pm.

"Our staff, supported by other commuters, freed the wheel and assisted the wheelchair user to get on board the train safely," Mr Ng said.

"After the commuter said that she was all right, train service resumed."

Mr Ng also thanked the commuters who jumped in to assist the wheelchair user and added that SMRT encourages passengers with special mobility needs to approach its staff members for help with boarding and alighting from trains.