SINGAPORE - Six passengers were injured when an SMRT bus was involved in an accident with a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) heavy vehicle along Mandai Avenue on Monday (Jan 11) afternoon.

The accident is understood to have taken place near the Mandai Crematorium.

In a press release early Tuesday morning, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said the SAF vehicle was carrying a foldable longspan bridge.

Mindef and SAF are investigating the accident and take a serious view of public road safety, the statement added.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, bus operator SMRT revealed that six bus passengers suffered injuries.

"We are in touch with the six injured passengers to provide assistance as best we can. The accident is under investigation by SMRT and the police," said Mr Patrick Nathan, SMRT's vice-president for corporate information and communications.

According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), it was alerted to the accident at 2.54pm and dispatched three ambulances to the scene.

The injured were sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and a hospital spokesman said that it received seven patients - six passengers and one driver. They were treated for "minor injuries" and have been discharged, he added.

Military vehicles have to follow the Land Transport Authority's guidelines on public roads and travel on routes approved by the authorities, said Mindef.

The accident comes after SAF's plans to install cameras in 6,900 of its wheeled vehicles in a bid to minimise road accidents and ensure servicemen drive safely.

The Straits Times reported in November last year that the cameras would capture the front and side views of a vehicle, as well as what is happening inside.

It is not known if the vehicle involved in the accident was fitted with a camera.