28-3-2024 (SINGAPORE) In a somber moment marred by an unexpected turn of events, a casket carrying the remains of a deceased individual came crashing down onto the road during a funeral procession along Jalan Batu on Wednesday, the 27th of March. The incident, captured on video and shared widely on social media, unfolded as mourners and pallbearers solemnly escorted the casket through the streets.
According to eyewitness accounts and reports from local media outlets, the procession was proceeding as customary, with a hearse leading the way and several individuals clad in white following closely behind. The pallbearers, consisting of relatives and friends of the departed, bore the burden of carrying the substantial casket, weighing in excess of 100 kilograms, atop a pole structure designed to facilitate the solemn ritual.
Without warning, the unthinkable occurred – the front of the pole structure collapsed, causing the casket to tip precariously before plummeting onto the unforgiving surface of the road. The sudden turn of events sent shockwaves through the procession, eliciting audible gasps and cries of distress from those present, as the heavy casket impacted the ground with a resounding thud.
Miraculously, despite the force of the fall, the casket remained intact, with no visible cracks or damage sustained. This stroke of fortune amidst the chaos was confirmed by Alliance Casket & Funerals, the funeral service company overseeing the arrangements, who expressed gratitude that the tragic incident did not escalate further.
In the aftermath, the company’s owner, while unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the collapse, speculated that a failure in one of the supporting poles might have precipitated the calamity. However, the bereaved family harbored no ill will towards the service provider, acknowledging the incident as a pure accident.
An industry expert, weighing in on the highly uncommon occurrence, surmised that the quality of the wood used to construct the poles could have been a contributing factor. Such incidents, they noted, are exceedingly rare, with this particular incident being the first of its kind they had encountered in their extensive experience within Singapore’s funeral industry.
As is customary in such unfortunate circumstances, the funeral service company may opt to present the bereaved family with an auspicious angbao, a monetary offering typically ranging from S$388 to S$688, or alternatively, engage the services of a Taoist priest to ensure the deceased’s smooth passage into the afterlife.
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