KEPALA BATAS: The Social Welfare Department (JKM) is assisting Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who sustained permanent disabilities in a recent bus crash by processing their applications for a Person with Disabilities card.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad said the ministry is compiling details of students who suffered long-term injuries in the June 9 incident, reaching out to them and extending support.

“The exact number of affected students is still being gathered as we are awaiting medical assessments,” she told reporters here yesterday.

Noraini, who is also Wanita Umno chief, was speaking after officiating the Kepala Batas Wanita, Youth and Puteri division delegates meeting, which was also attended by Kepala Batas Umno chief and Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.

She said counselling sessions are ongoing for survivors and families of those who died, including the family in the car involved in the crash, as many of them remain traumatised.

“Ongoing psychological support is crucial, especially for those grieving the loss of loved ones. I visited the family who were in the car on Saturday, and they are still affected (by the accident),” she said, Bernama reported.

The accident occurred at KM53 of the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik, when a chartered bus carrying UPSI students from Jertih, Terengganu, to the Tanjung Malim campus overturned.

Fifteen students were killed, while 33 others, including the bus driver and co-driver, as well as the driver and three passengers of the car, were injured.