It said the project remains in the design and assessment study stage, and no physical construction has been carried out on-site, other than routine maintenance on existing roads.

It was responding to concerns raised regarding flash flood incidents and landslides following heavy rain at several locations in Cameron Highlands, including calls for the temporary suspension of the bypass road project.

The project involves the construction of the Tanah Rata bypass road, the upgrading of the federal road from Tanah Rata to Kea Farm, and the upgrading of another federal road, Jalan Griddle.

In a statement, the department said preliminary checks indicate that the flooding at the Mardi park and public field areas in Tanah Rata occurred on secondary roads, which are not part of the main road alignment involved in the project.

However, a small-scale landslide did occur at Jalan Tengkolok, an area falling under the scope of routine maintenance by the project contractor.

Debris clearing operations were carried out immediately and have been completed to ensure the safety and smooth flow of traffic for road users, it said.

“The works ministry takes seriously all concerns regarding slope safety, geological conditions, drainage systems, and disaster risks,” it said.

“The implementation of this project is subject to all assessments, approvals, and technical conditions stipulated by the relevant authorities, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Social Impact Assessment (SIA), geotechnical requirements, and local authority approvals.

“Physical construction work will only commence once all approvals and relevant approvals and conditions have been met.”

KUCHING (Sept 13): Sibu moved out of the unhealthy air quality category at noon today as haze conditions showed slight improvement across parts of Sarawak.

Sibu recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) of 99 at noon, down from 109 at 9am, shifting it into the moderate category.

Lubok Antu, however, remained the state’s only station recording very unhealthy air quality, with its API holding at 201 at noon.

Serian continued to record the highest reading among stations in the unhealthy category, though it showed a slight improvement from 185 at 9am to 181 at noon.

Sri Aman also dropped from 174 to 168, while Betong (MCAQM) fell from 172 to 168.

In Kuching, the API eased from 156 to 154, while Samarahan edged down from 156 to 155.

Other stations recording unhealthy air quality at noon were Kanowit at 149 (up slightly from 148), Tebedu at 129 (down from 137); and Lundu at 112 (down from 122).

Apart from Sibu, other stations recording moderate air quality at noon included Sarikei (88, down from 91 at 9am), Mukah (78, down from 80), Bintulu (77, up from 74), Kapit (75, down from 76), Miri (70, down from 72), Samalaju (70, unchanged), Lawas (62, down from 63), ILP Miri (59, down from 61) and Limbang (55, unchanged).

Bario continued to record the state’s only good air quality reading, improving from 50 at 9am to 43 at noon.

Under the API classification, readings of 0 to 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy and 201 to 300 very unhealthy.

Residents in areas experiencing unhealthy and very unhealthy air quality are advised to reduce prolonged outdoor activities, particularly children, the elderly and those with respiratory or heart conditions.

KUCHING (Sept 13): All primary and secondary schools under the Serian District Education Office (PPD) will reopen and operate as usual from tomorrow (Sept 14), following an improvement in air quality, according to the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS).

The department said the decision was made based on Air Pollutant Index (API) readings recorded on the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal as of noon today, as well as a report from the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

“Meanwhile, schools under the supervision of PPD Lubok Antu will continue with Teaching and Learning at Home (PdPR), in accordance with the provisions under Ministry of Education Malaysia Circular Letter No. 8 of 2016 and the Guidelines for the Management of Teaching and Learning in the Event of Disasters dated July 21, 2016,” it said in a statement.

JPNS said any changes or latest information would be updated from time to time.

The department also stressed that the welfare, health and safety of students remained a priority, particularly during hot weather or unexpected weather conditions.

It added that parents or guardians could choose not to send their children to school if they had concerns about their health due to the haze still affecting several locations in Sarawak.

However, they would need to inform the respective school authorities of their decision.

Nuwakot, Nepal: "Saya sering mengalami mimpi ngeri mengenai banjir itu," kata Ritu Maya Tamang yang masih trauma selepas banjir dahsyat di Nepal pada 26 Ogos lalu meragut nyawa ibunya.

Pada usia 12 tahun, pelajar sekolah Nepal itu sudah memahami bagaimana keluarga yang begitu rapat boleh 'terpisah' dalam sekelip mata.

Banjir yang mula melanda daerah Rasuwa yang terletak di kawasan tanah tinggi Nepal meragut nyawa ibu Tamang, namun mayatnya masih belum ditemukan.

Hingga kini, ingatan mengenai hari banjir dahsyat yang berlaku itu masih segar dalam fikiran Tamang.

Ibunya yang bekerja sebagai pembantu rumah ketika itu berada di pejabat sebuah projek hidroelektrik berhampiran Sungai Trishuli.

"Apabila air datang deras, ibu tidak dapat menyelamatkan diri. Saya terselamat kerana berada di sekolah," kata Tamang dengan air mata bergenang.

Satu-satunya kenangan yang masih dimiliki Tamang daripada ibunya ialah pelitup muka berwarna hitam yang disimpan di dalam begnya.

Tamang antara lebih 500 kanak-kanak yang terpisah daripada ibu bapa selepas banjir dahsyat pada 26 Ogos lalu melanda sempadan China-Nepal, menghanyutkan rumah, jambatan dan kediaman.

Adik perempuan Tamang kini dirawat di hospital akibat radang paru-paru, manakala bapanya setia menanti di sisi katilnya.

Agensi bencana Nepal pada Jumaat berkata, 1,385 mayat sudah ditemukan, manakala 5,130 orang masih hilang. Di China, media kerajaan melaporkan 43 orang maut dan 519 masih hilang.

Kejutan dan trauma

Dalam pada itu, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Save the Children berkata, sekurang-kurangnya 540 kanak-kanak terpisah daripada ibu bapa dan kini tinggal bersama ribuan mangsa lain di kem bantuan di kawasan yang terjejas akibat banjir, berdasarkan penilaian awal.

Di salah sebuah pusat pembelajaran dalam khemah, guru Shanti Sapkota berkata, ketika kanak-kanak berkenaan mula tiba, ramai dalam keadaan terkejut dan panik.

"Mereka akan berkata, 'rumah saya sudah dihanyutkan', 'ayah saya dihanyutkan' atau 'ibu saya dihanyutkan'," kata Sapkota kepada AFP.

"Namun, mereka perlahan-lahan mula keluar daripada keadaan itu."

Kerajaan Nepal berkata ia akan menjamin pendidikan sehingga peringkat sekolah menengah untuk kanak-kanak terjejas, dengan bantuan merangkumi penjagaan di asrama hingga biasiswa penuh.

Bersama pihak berkepentingan, kerajaan berikrar menubuhkan dana biasiswa bernilai AS$6.5 juta (kira-kira RM26.4 juta) untuk kira-kira 1,000 pelajar yang terjejas akibat banjir.

"Kami memberi keutamaan kepada kanak-kanak yang kehilangan penjaga," kata Menteri Pendidikan, Sasmit Pokharel.

"Kami akan mengenal pasti jenis sokongan yang diperlukan setiap kanak-kanak... Kami akan bersama mereka," katanya pada Isnin.

Di pusat pembelajaran Nuwakot, ahli psikologi Ekta Shreshtha berkata kanak-kanak berkenaan mudah terkesan dengan kehadiran orang atau bunyi yang asing.

"Masih terlalu awal, tetapi berdasarkan pemerhatian saya, ramai antara mereka mengalami masalah tidur dan mengasingkan diri," katanya kepada AFP.

"Kami cuba mengalih perhatian mereka dengan permainan dan aktiviti menyeronokkan lain yang membantu mereka melupakan trauma buat sementara waktu," katanya.

"Namun, seluruh kehidupan mereka masih terbentang di hadapan. Kesakitan itu akan kembali semula."