AN ELDERLY woman died after she was hit by a train at the Clementi MRT station on Tuesday morning, disrupting westbound train service between Queenstown and Jurong East stations for about 50 minutes.

Madam Quak Han Lui, 71, is believed to have fallen on the platform and then onto the tracks just as a train was pulling into the station. Witnesses at the scene said she 'suddenly lost consciousness and fell'.

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The train driver braked immediately after hitting her. Her body was found under the third carriage, with her head and right arm severed.

Police and SCDF were called at about 6.15am. The woman was pronounced dead at 7 am. Her occupation is not known but she was headed to her workplace in Jurong.

Police are investigating the case as an unnatural death.

When The Straits Times visited her home at Merpati Road, her family members declined to speak to reporter. It is believed that Madam Quak lived with her husband and her daughter's family in the two-storey house.

Neighbours said that Madam Quak 'looked healthy' and appeared active for her age. She would leave the house accompanied by her daughter early in the morning, around 6am, returning only in the evening.

They added that she enjoyed gardening and they would often see her pottering around the backyard in the evenings tending to her plants.

SMRT said about 6,250 passengers were affected by the incident.

A bus bridging service was activated to serve the affected stations between Queenstown and Jurong East.

Westbound train services resumed at 7.03am.

Passengers who were unable to complete their journeys due to the disruption can claim a full fare refund from Passenger Service Centres at any MRT station within three working days.