Part of road near Bentong closed after debris flow

 

Workers clearing the debris along Jalan Lama Gombak- Bentong. (Young Syefura Othman pic)

KUANTAN: Federal Route FT68, or Jalan Lama Gombak to Bentong, is closed to all vehicles from today until Dec 1 due to structural damage.

Sections of Jalan Pintasan Bukit Tinggi are affected.

Bentong public works department (JKR), in a statement, announced the closure of the route which is located near the Janda Baik T- junction. This is to ensure the safety of road users, it added.

Those heading for Janda Baik are advised to use the alternative route by taking the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway to the Bukit Tinggi Intersection, heading towards the Bukit Tinggi BHP petrol station and passing through SMK Bukit Tinggi.

Road users are urged to abide by the road signs provided and call the Bentong JKR office at 09-2224040 for inquiries.

The road was involved in the debris flow that occurred for three hours from 8pm yesterday. Water flowed down, carrying with it stones, sediments and fallen trees.

Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman, in a statement, said that in addition to road cracks, the incident also caused the hill slope to collapse.

Some residents reported damage to their properties. Tourists were also badly affected.

Young Syefura requested a comprehensive study be done by the irrigation and drainage department (JPS) for mitigation work to be carried out, especially in high-risk areas such as Bukit Tinggi and Janda Baik.

This would also facilitate investigations to check whether illegal land-clearing activities were going on there, she said.

“Immediate repairs to slopes and roads as well as river cleaning and dredging work will be carried out by JKR and JPS as temporary measures before a long-term restoration plan is implemented,” she said.

Young Syefura also said natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad had inspected the area this morning and held an emergency meeting with the relevant agencies.

In a statement, JPS said the debris flow occurred after three hours of moderate-intensity rain, hitting several houses and business premises but the water receded by 11.30pm.

“The flooding in the area was caused by a water surge that brought down stones and sediments. This led to the road crossing being blocked and the overflow of the Sungai Tanglir tributary onto the road.”

The area involved is part of the site included in the study for the Bentong district environmentally friendly drainage master plan (Pisma), which is a long-term solution to address such issues. - FMT