Veteran climbers answer their prayers
Two hikers send much needed medication and supplies to stranded devotees
GEORGE TOWN: A group of 36 people which went for prayers and meditation on Penang Hill has been stranded there since Sunday after fallen trees and landslides caused the funicular train service to be disrupted.
The 5.2km jeep trail up the hill has also been blocked.
The group, including senior citizens and children, claimed there was not enough water at their hotel, adding that they needed medication and other items for some of the people there who have diabetes and asthma.
Insurance agent K. Womasuthan, 58, said 16 of his family members were in the group.
“Some of the senior citizens need medication. The Penang Hill Corporation and hotel could not provide such medication. Although the hotel has given us food, we need milk powder and diapers for the children,” he said in an interview.
Womasuthan said the group boarded the train at noon on Saturday and checked into the hotel at 2pm.
“I was with them but I came down about 9pm. I planned to return the next morning but the area where I am living in was flooded. I later found out the train service was disrupted and the jeep trail was impassable to traffic,” he said.
Learning about the group’s plight from The Star, two men hiked up to the hill from the base in Ayer Itam to take medication and food items gathered by Womasuthan’s relative P. Balan worth about RM500 to the group.
Tony Lim, 62, and Quek Teow Ban, 60, who are members of the Penang Happy Hikers Group, said they took two hours to reach the hilltop.
“We wanted to hike up using the jeep trail or Moon Gate but was told it was unsafe due to landslides and mudflows.
“We then went up via the Heritage Trail in Ayer Itam. There were many fallen trees and landslides, but we managed to reach the top after going through some difficulties.
“The group was very happy to see us. We gave them the items and made our way down,” said Lim.
Penang Hill Corporation general manager Cheok Lay Leng, said volunteer firemen would be deployed to walk up the hill via the jeep trail to bring some of them down today.
He said workers from the Public Works Department and the corporation were clearing the landslides and fallen trees, adding that they needed four days to clear the path to the hilltop.
Several areas were worse than expected and the corporation is sending staff to help out.
Cheok said the group wanted to be brought down by helicopter but the PHC could not do so.
“They are safe and have enough food. If they walk to other areas near the hotel, they can certainly find water from the taps there,” he said.