PANDAMARAN, 23 Oct: The Deepavali celebration this year was celebrated with tears when thinking about the homes that have been lived in all these years have been badly damaged by a tornado a day before the celebration.
This was the fate that befell single mother, Araywee A/P Murugan, 62, when the roof of her house was destroyed by the wind during the storm that took place here on Monday evening.
“I was in the house at the time with my differently abled child. We panicked and hugged each other.
“We are celebrating Deepavali in sadness because we have to sleep in a wet house because the rain came in,” she said when met by Selangor Kini.
She is among the residents of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) Apartment in Pandamaran Jaya who have been affected by the 30-minute storm.
Due to the incident, the roof in the middle of her house was blown away by strong wind and some of her household items and furniture were damaged.
The same feelings are shared by the resident of Block F, Francis Maviandas, 48, when his family’s preparation for Deepavali was destroyed in the incident.
“Our luck this year is not very good. We did not go to the temple to pray on the night of Deepavali.
“Our new clothes to celebrate Deepavali were drenched because our roof was leaking,” said the resident of Block B.
He explained that their family only cleaned up the house and moved the electrical items which were exposed to the rain throughout Deepavali.
“I did not dare to turn on any switches in the house. I was afraid of an electrical short circuit because the walls of the house and electrical items, like the refrigerator, were wet by the rain,” he added.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali and some Selangor Exco members visited the site of the incident.
During his visit, Mohamed Azmin assured the residents involved that the roof structure of the apartment that was damaged will be fully repaired by next Friday.
“Since yesterday evening, PKNS began reparation works and I understand that PKNS is able to fully complete the work this Friday.
“Do not worry, the state government will ensure that PKNS finishes the roof as soon as possible,” he said when meeting several residents involved in the incident.
The tornado which formed during the rain at 2 pm on Monday witnessed the roofs of five out of the six PKNS apartment blocks damages with a part of it being blown away by wind.
Selangor Kini found that most of the residents involved are satisfied with the commitment and proactive efforts by PKNS.
“I hope that PKNS can complete this work as promised because our lives have been affected since the day of the incident.
“We feel grateful and thankful to the state government and PKNS for their efforts in ensuring that this problem will be resolved quickly,” said Mohd Suhairi Saari, 27.
He is among the residents of Block B who were affected and is now staying at a close relative’s house while waiting for the roof of his hoe to be repaired.
NS
