Roads in Kajang sealed tonight for cleanup work

The Malaysian Insider, Saturday, December 3 2011

Roads in Kajang sealed tonight for cleanup work

KAJANG, Dec 3 — Several roads will be closed tonight to enable Kajang Municipal Council workers to clean up the town following last night’s flash flood.

They will be assisted by about 100 volunteers, said Kajang assemblyman Lee Kim Sin.

Yesterday, council workers were busy clearing the streets of river sediment late into the night using heavy machinery.

A three-hour-long downpour from about 3pm yesterday flooded the town.

Floodwaters gushed into homes and shops, stranding many people at shopping complexes such as Plaza Metro.

The badly affected areas were Jalan Bukit, Jalan Sulaiman, Jalan Raja Haroun, Jalan Tun Abdul Aziz and Jalan Jelok Tiga.

In some places, the water level was as high as 1.5m.

The flood left a trail of damaged vehicles, homes and shophouses. No fatalities or injuries were report.

The flood also halted train services into the town.

Lee said flood mitigation projects were implemented in 2008 which included widening Sungai Jelok and channelling water to Sungai Langat as well as building flood retaining walls 1.5m high.

However, yesterday’s heavy rain caused the water in Sungai Jelok and Sungai Langat to overflow their banks.

Lee estimated the damage from the flood at RM3 million. He said those affected should report to the council.

Today, Lee, state executive councillor Ronnie Liu and Hulu Langat MP Dr Che Rosli Che Mat distributed food items, donated by Econsave, to more than 50 affected households in Jalan Cheras.

Lee said the flood was the worst since the big flood in 1971.