What was supposed to be an ordinary bus journey in Singapore turned into an unexpected water adventure after heavy rain sent torrents of water rushing into an SBS Transit bus travelling along the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE).
Passengers aboard bus service 197 were caught by surprise on Monday afternoon, November 9, when rainwater surged through the vehicle’s rear-door area, splashing commuters and flooding part of the bus floor.
A video shared on Chinese social media platform RedNote by user Red Coffee Meow captured the unusual incident, showing water gushing into the bus as it travelled through a waterlogged stretch of the expressway.
The dramatic footage quickly attracted attention because the scene looked less like a regular public transport journey and more like a theme park water attraction.
The passenger jokingly compared the experience to the Jurassic Park River Adventure ride, writing that the journey offered free admission, a 60 per cent chance of getting soaked and 100 per cent excitement.
But behind the humour was an uncomfortable experience for commuters who were unexpectedly drenched during their journey.
According to reports by AsiaOne, Stomp and 8world News, the incident happened at approximately 4pm while the bus was travelling from the Clementi area towards the National University Hospital.
The passenger said the water repeatedly splashed into the vehicle near the rear door, affecting people seated nearby.
Some commuters were reportedly so wet that they had to move to other seats to avoid further splashing.
Passengers Drenched as Water Gushes Through Rear Door
The video shows a significant amount of water entering the bus near its rear entrance.
The force of the water was reportedly strong enough to repeatedly lift the floor panel near the door, according to the passenger’s account to Stomp.
A family sitting near the affected area was particularly unfortunate.
The passenger said the family was almost completely soaked, prompting its members to move towards the driver’s area to escape the water.
The RedNote user and her companion were initially seated approximately two rows from the rear door.
After getting wet from the incoming water, they also decided to relocate to the last row.
Other passengers could be seen taking out their mobile phones to record the unusual incident, while some appeared amused by the unexpected situation.
Although the footage generated laughter online, the experience raised questions about how rainwater was able to enter the bus with such force.
The exact cause has not been established publicly.
Passenger’s Jurassic Park Joke Goes Viral
Rather than simply complaining about the incident, the passenger used humour to describe what happened.
Her comparison to the Jurassic Park River Adventure attraction quickly became the most memorable part of the video.
Her caption described the experience as:
“Free admission, 60 per cent soaked, 100 per cent excitement.”
The sarcastic remark resonated with social media users, many of whom were surprised by the amount of water entering what should have been an enclosed public transport vehicle.
Some questioned how the water could have entered through the rear door, while others joked about the unexpected free water-park experience.
However, the incident also prompted more serious questions about passenger comfort, vehicle maintenance and safety during severe weather.
Heavy Rain and Ponding Along AYE Contributed to the Unusual Incident
The incident occurred during a period of intense rainfall across Singapore.
The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) had issued a heavy rain warning between 12.10pm and 1.10pm on November 9, covering parts of the island.
Heavy showers affected northern, western and central Singapore during the afternoon.
PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, also issued flood-risk alerts for two locations:
- Lorong Gambir near Bartley Road.
- Mackenzie Road near Bukit Timah Road.
The bus encountered a ponded stretch of the AYE, where accumulated water created the dramatic splashing seen in the footage.
Singapore was also experiencing the inter-monsoon period, which typically brings more variable winds, thunderstorms and periods of intense rainfall.
In its October 29 fortnightly weather update, MSS warned that moderate to heavy thundery showers could affect parts of Singapore on most days during the first half of November.
This weather pattern helps explain why commuters have been experiencing sudden downpours, although it does not establish the precise mechanical reason water entered the bus.
SBS Transit Asked to Explain What Happened
The incident has raised questions about whether the bus suffered any damage or whether its rear-door sealing and drainage systems require inspection.
AsiaOne and Stomp reported that they had approached SBS Transit for comments.
At the time of their reports, the bus operator had not publicly provided a confirmed explanation for the water entering the vehicle.
It also remained unclear whether the bus required maintenance or a technical inspection after the incident.
Importantly, there has been no confirmed finding that the bus had a mechanical defect.
The distinction matters because water entering through a door during a vehicle’s passage through a flooded road does not, by itself, establish that the vehicle was faulty.
A proper technical assessment would be needed to determine whether the incident involved the door mechanism, seals, drainage arrangements or another factor.
Bus Service 197 Connects Bedok and Jurong East
The incident involved SBS Transit-operated service 197, a regular trunk bus route connecting Bedok Interchange and Jurong East Interchange.
The service passes through several important residential, commercial and transport areas, including:
- Marine Parade
- City Hall
- Chinatown
- Tiong Bahru
- Alexandra
- Clementi
- Jurong East
The route also travels along sections of the AYE, making it an important connection for commuters travelling between eastern and western Singapore.
According to SBS Transit’s published service information, bus 197 operates daily, with its first departure from Bedok at 5.30am and its last at 11.45pm.
The incident has therefore attracted attention among regular commuters who use the route for work, school and hospital-related journeys. SBSTransit+1
Singapore’s Flash Flood Risks Remain a Major Concern During Heavy Rain
The bus incident also highlights the challenges Singapore faces when intense rainfall causes water to accumulate rapidly on roads.
Although the country has invested heavily in drainage infrastructure, exceptionally heavy showers can still create temporary ponding and flash-flood risks.
PUB continuously monitors drainage conditions and issues alerts when water levels or rainfall conditions indicate potential flooding.
Motorists are generally advised to avoid driving through flooded roads because water depth can be difficult to judge, while strong currents and hidden road hazards can create dangerous conditions.
Public transport vehicles also have to navigate these changing road conditions while carrying passengers.
Singapore has been investing in major drainage improvements to strengthen flood resilience.
One example is the completed S$60 million upgrade of the Upper Bukit Timah Canal, which increased its drainage capacity by 30 per cent.
However, infrastructure improvements do not eliminate all flood risks, particularly during unusually intense rainfall. WWC One Media+2
Similar Bus Safety Incidents Have Also Drawn Attention
The latest incident comes shortly after another SBS Transit bus controversy involving a viral social media video.
In that separate incident, footage appeared to show a man attaching a mobile phone to the rear of an SBS Transit bus before following it on a motorcycle.
SBS Transit subsequently lodged a police report, citing concerns about the safety of the individual and other road users.
The man later offered a different explanation about how the footage was recorded, while police investigations continued.
Although the two incidents are unrelated, they have placed renewed attention on public transport safety and the responsibilities of bus operators, passengers and other road users.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously reported on the controversy in Man Tapes Phone to SBS Transit Bus to Film Viral Video — Then His Explanation Raises Even More Questions.
Related WWC ONE MEDIA Coverage
The latest incident also connects with several other Singapore stories involving heavy rainfall, flooding and transport infrastructure:
- Flash Floods Hit Woodlands and Lim Chu Kang as Heavy Rain Sweeps Singapore
- Heavy Rain Sweeps Singapore as Flash Flood Alerts Issued in Jurong West
- Singapore Completes S$60 Million Bukit Timah Canal Upgrade to Fight Flash Floods
- Bukit Timah Plaza Floods Again, TCM Shop Suffers Thousands of Dollars in Losses
The Bigger Question: How Safe Are Singapore’s Buses During Extreme Downpours?
The viral bus 197 incident may have provided commuters with an unexpected laugh, but it also raises a legitimate question about passenger protection during severe weather.
Singapore’s public transport network is widely recognised for its efficiency, but extreme rainfall can create unusual situations that challenge even well-established transport operations.
For passengers, an ordinary bus ride should not turn into an experience where they have to relocate to avoid being soaked by incoming rainwater.
The incident also highlights the importance of investigating whether the water entered because of road conditions, vehicle design or a possible maintenance issue.
Until SBS Transit provides an explanation, the precise cause remains unconfirmed.
One thing is certain: the commuters aboard service 197 did not pay for a theme park attraction, but their unexpected Jurassic Park-style journey has given Singapore’s social media users plenty to talk about.
Could this unusual water-filled bus ride expose a bigger problem with public transport during Singapore’s increasingly intense downpours, and will SBS Transit explain how so much rainwater managed to enter the vehicle?
