Motorists stranded as rainstorm hits Klang Valley
KUALA LUMPUR: A heavy thunderstorm saw homeward-bound motorists caught in a traffic gridlock after several areas were inundated by flash floods yesterday.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Mohd Sani Harul said a downpour, which lasted for more than two hours since 4pm, triggered flash floods which affected parts of the Klang Valley.
Sani said the department received reports that flash floods had hit Jalan Cheras, Kampung Cheras Baru and Jalan Lapangan Terbang near Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang.
“Heavy rain, which started in the late afternoon, caused flooding in these areas with water rising up to 2m,” he said.
Sani added that the department received a distress call between 4pm
near Sultan Abdul Aziz Pic courtesy of reader and 5pm as the water level almost reach up to 1m near Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.
“The flash floods brought traffic to a standstill, especially near the exit to the New Klang Valley Expressway,” he said, adding that traffic was back to normal at 9pm yesterday.
Sani said the motorcycle lane along the Federal Highway near Subang Jaya was also flooded between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
“The floodwater was about 1m high when Sungai Damansara overflowed,” he said.
In Kampung Cheras, Sani said the floodwater reached up to 2m due to the failure of flood control pumping station system.
“The residents claimed that the water level rose rapidly following the failure of the system. However, there was no evacuation as water level subsided about 7pm,” he said.