Deepavali preparations destroyed as flash floods inundate Sungai Buloh homes

Families in Taman Seri Alam, Sungai Buloh, faced devastating losses as Deepavali preparations were upturned by flash floods, an outcome that turned a joyous season into despair. Newly bought furniture, household appliances, and festival essentials were destroyed within days, leaving residents heartbroken. Clothes, kitchen equipment, and freshly purchased items were among the damaged belongings when the floodwaters surged into their homes in the afternoon yesterday.

One resident, M. Pagirati, expressed her dismay, as she and her family had anticipated improvements after repairs on a nearby retention pond. However, floodwaters not only ruined the kitchen but also inundated the bathroom and other parts of the house, causing immense inconvenience. She lamented, "I was supposed to make traditional cakes today, but I could not because the kitchen was damaged. Even the newly bought cabinets and refrigerator were flooded."

Another resident, Sazali Basran, recounted his harrowing experience. He was caught off guard by the sudden rise in water levels, saving only a car and a motorcycle from the floodwaters. Sazali, a long-time resident of the estate, highlighted that the last major flood hit in December 2024. He explained, "Within the housing estate, the affected areas were Lanes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, although the water level in Lane 12 was only slightly higher.

Lane 6 is the lowest-lying area in the estate because our retention pond is located at the far end."

Taman Seri Alam Residents' Association chairman, Fuzil Mohammad Daud, provided further insight into the flood's origin. He stated that the water entered the housing estate around 4pm following heavy rain that began at 3pm. He pointed out that the water didn't solely come from the Hilpark retention pond and neighboring estates, but also a significant volume from UiTM Puncak Alam.

As of 11.30pm on Nov 5, nine temporary relief centers in Kuala Selangor, Shah Alam, and Klang were housing 1,120 flood victims from 284 families, while three rivers exceeded their warning thresholds.