Wednesday November 25, 2009
No trains out of Kelantan due to worsening floods
By C.A. ZULKIFLE and G.C. TAN
KOTA BARU: Train services from Kelantan to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore have been cancelled until further notice due to the worsening flood situation.
Thousands of passengers who had booked seats in their rush back home for the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebrations will now have to find alternative transport to their respective destinations.
Kuala Krai KTM Bhd eastern territory manager Che Ibrahim Sulaiman said it had to cancel services due to soil erosion of the river bank at the 399.25th kilometre, which is close to the KTM bridge between Bukit Abu and Dabong.
He said work was being done to stop further erosion at the river bank.
Shafie Ahmad, 38, making his way to the flood relief centre while carrying a bag of provisions from his inundated home in Kampung Paya, Balai Besar, Dungun yesterday. He was among 3,100 people in Dungun affected by severe floods since Monday. “Continuous rain is hampering our remedial works but we will ensure the tracks will be safe for use by the stipulated time,” he added.
KTM has refunded the tickets for those who had to cancel their trips.
Che Sulaiman said the services that were affected were Express Timuran from Tumpat to Kuala Lumpur and Express Wau from Tumpat to Singapore.
In Alor Star, the situation in Kedah has returned to normal following the receding of floodwaters at the affected villages.
A state National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson said more than 3,336 people from 865 families had returned to their homes after the closure of 38 flood relief centres in the state since Saturday.
The State Flood Operation Centre hotline 04-700 1161 is still active for the public to call in case of flood emergencies.
A spokesperson from the state Drainage and Irrigation Department’s hydrology unit said the department was still monitoring the water levels of a few rivers in the state that were rising, especially after a downpour.
To safer grounds: Civil Defence Department personnel helping students of SMK Penambang in Kota Baru get on a truck to safety after flood hit their school. In Kangar, Asst Supt Razak Jusoh, who is with the state NSC, said the flood situation was minor and the flood relief centre at SK Seri Perlis had been closed for a few days.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that there has been no improvement in the flood situation in Kelantan following the prevailing bad weather in the east coast.
The number of people evacuated in the state due to floods has risen to 3,787 people yesterday morning compared to 3,303 people on Monday night.
Of the 970 families moved to shelters yesterday, the Pasir Mas district recorded the highest number of evacuees at 2,008 people.
A spokesman at the state flood operations centre said the number of flood evacuees in Kuala Krai now stood at 885 people, Tumpat (438), Tanah Merah (333), Kota Baru (63) and Machang (60).
He said 21 roads have been closed to all traffic involving six districts.
In KUANTAN, a spokesman at the Pahang police headquarters said only 30 people from four families remained at the flood relief centre opened up at SK Cherating.
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