SINGAPORE - A woman accidentally stepped into the gap between the train and platform at Chinatown MRT, delaying train services on the North-east Line on Wednesday (Feb 3).

The incident occurred at about 2pm at the Chinatown Station, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said.

The 45-year-old woman was wheeling her mother, who is in her 70s, on a wheelchair, Lianhe Wanbao reported.

She was more concerned about her mother, although her right leg was stuck so tightly in the gap it could not be budged, said a reporter from Wanbao who witnessed the incident.

SBS Transit told The Straits Times that the station staff tried to free the woman but failed. Other commuters also tried to free her.

"Attempts by station staff to extricate her failed and the SCDF was contacted for assistance," said Ms Tammy Tan, senior vice-president of corporate communications.

As a result of this incident, the train was held back at the station causing service to be delayed on the line. Public address announcements were made to inform commuters about the delay, Ms Tan said.

There was also a train fault following this incident and the combined delay lasted about 30 minutes. SBS provided free bus rides between Outram Park and Dhoby Ghaut Stations during this time.

SCDF freed her leg using hydraulic rescue tools, it said. It sent one fire engine, one red rhino and one ambulance to the scene.

SCDF paramedics found that she had minor abrasion and bruising on her leg, but she refused to be taken to hospital.

The woman rushed to leave the scene once her leg was freed.

She told Wanbao: "It hurts, but I can stand it. I have to take my mother home first!"