SHAH ALAM, Nov 17 — The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) is taking proactive steps in addressing flash floods, including engaging the services of a consultant, said MBSA Corporate Communications and Public Relations head, Shahrin Ahmad.

He said the consultant would be tasked to make an assessment and give recommendations in tackling flash floods after a heavy downpour.

In addition, the council would monitor cleaning contractors to ensure roadside drains in the areas were maintained according to schedule and ditch drainage flow was not impeded.

“Yesterday’s flash floods was due to heavy rains with a rainfall distribution of 103 mm,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Meanwhile, State Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Agriculture Modernisation and Agro-based Industry committee chairman, Zaidy Abdul Talib said the state had taken several short-term measures to address flash floods.

“A clean-up operation of all water outlets will be carried out, including digging out retention ponds to capture the increased storm water runoff,” he said in a statement.

Puncak Alam, and Shah Alam were the worst-hit areas in Selangor when the flash floods occurred on Sunday night (Nov 15) and yesterday.

The areas affected in Shah Alam were Section 13, Section 20, U8, Batu 3 Commuter Station, Persiaran Kerjaya and the Bukit Jelutong toll.

Heavy rains caused traffic congestions when roads were not accessible and commuter services halted for several hours when the station was inundated.

Meanwhile in Puncak Alam town, more than 200 residents at Jalan Lautan Samudera were evacuated when their homes were inundated by water as high as a metre, following heavy rains on Sunday night.

However, the evacuees who sought shelter at Surau Taufiqiyah in Kuala Selangor, were allowed to return home yesterday morning when the water receded. — Bernama