KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — Universiti Malaya (UM) was one of the many places in the heart of the city that was badly hit by the flash floods on Thursday.

Undergraduates were shocked at how quickly water levels rose, leaving their vehicles almost submerged at the parking lots within their campus.

To add to their woes, they now have to fork out hundreds of ringgit to repair their cars.

Electrical engineering student Atikah Hussein, 22, said she was stuck in her Proton Persona after meeting her friends at the campus.

“I was on my way back to Bangsar at about 7pm. There were many other vehicles in front of me as traffic was congested.

“Water rose quickly and the next thing I knew, it was almost reaching the windows.”

Atikah immediately contacted her family to tell them she was trapped in her car. She spent nearly two hours in the vehicle.

“I switched off my car engine and wound down the windows. I wanted to avoid engine problems and be able to get out through the window if I had to.

“It was a horrible experience. I had to get my car towed as the engine would not start after water levels had dropped. By the time I got home it was already midnight,” she said.

Judging by the extent of the damage to her car, Atikah said she could end up paying “several hundred ringgit” repairing it. 

UM students posted pictures of the flooding within the university compound and at Jalan Pantai Baru, where the main gate is located, on Thursday night. The images went viral on social media.

Another UM student, Khoo Wei Cheong, 21, was also trapped on Thursday night when flood waters rose midway up the height of his pickup truck.

“I’ve never been in such a situation before. I was scared as I did not know what to do. I panicked and opened the door to get out but water gushed into the vehicle instead,” said the electrical engineering student.

“I told myself it was best to stay in my vehicle and killed the engine. It was a cold and miserable night but at least I managed to drive off once water levels receded.

“I called my family members and told them not to worry.”

He saw several cars being towed away.

Khoo added his Toyota Hilux “smelt bad” following the incident and that his note books and laptop in the vehicle were ruined when he opened the door.

“It was my fault as I left my note books and laptop on the floor instead of the seat.”

Khoo said he got a mechanic to inspect the vehicle and was told there were no major problems.

“I guess I’m lucky in that sense,” he said.