Roof of five low-cost houses blown away

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THE roofs of five low-cost houses in Batu 18, Hulu Langat, Selangor, were blown away recently following strong winds.

Locals suspect the incident was due to a sudden shift in wind direction.

According to Lubuk Kelubi village head Zulkafli Lejis, thunderstorms usually rage in the area during the monsoon but no houses there had sustained any damage except for the recent incident.

“The houses are located in front of a hilly area now being cleared for the raw water transfer project between Pahang and Selangor.

“We suspect that strong winds headed towards the cleared area shifted direction when the trees that are still standing acted as a buffer,” he said.

The project under the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry includes the construction of a 44.6km tunnel costing RM1.3bil to channel two million litres of water daily from Pahang to Selangor.

Upon completion in 2014, it will meet the water needs of consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya until 2025. Besides Hulu Langat, work on the RM3.936bil project involves Karak, Pahang.

According to Zulkafli, repairs on the damaged roofing have commenced and the project contractors were footing the bill, estimated to be around RM30,000.

Meanwhile, resident Jasman Dalin, 59, said he was awakened from a nap at 6.30pm one day after hearing a loud crash.

“I had the shock of my life and before long, rain began beating in because the front portion of my house was exposed. I realised then that the zinc roofing had been ripped clean from the rafters,” he explained.

Homemaker Siti Suryaton Mohd Nor, 24, is hoping work on the roof would be completed in time for her family to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa on Sunday.

“We have been residing here for the past eight months and nothing like this has ever happened. I am thankful to the Almighty that no one was hurt,” she said.

Zulkafli said work was expected to be completed by Sunday.