SUBANG JAYA: Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan has confirmed that excavation work was being carried out to change sewer pipes approximately 30 metres from the Putra Heights explosion site.

He said two pieces of equipment were used - an excavator, which was left at the site and subsequently buried, and a backhoe, which was removed before the explosion.

The work, which had been approved by the city council beforehand, was halted on March 30.

He added that the police have identified the developer, contractor, subcontractor, and workers involved in using the backhoe and excavator for the sewer pipe replacement, and they have been called in for questioning.

"As we are aware, on April 1, a massive explosion occurred, causing a significant impact that resulted in a large crater approximately eight metres deep and 70 metres in diameter.

"The explosion happened underground, where there are three three Petronas pipelines carry methane or natural gas. One of these pipelines exploded.

"Whether the excavation work contributed to the explosion is a matter that requires further investigation to identify other possible factors," he said at a press conference at the incident command post today.

He added that additional evidence needs to be gathered as investigators excavate the site, where physical clues may be found to determine whether soil excavation activities played a role in the explosion.

At present, stabilisation works are underway because the massive explosion disrupted the area's original structure and landscape, rendering the site unstable.

He said the police need to excavate the site to determine whether anyone was inside the excavator, but this will only be done after April 15.

"So far, we have taken statements from 56 witnesses, including victims who were present at the scene, as well as contractors and workers in the area.

"At present, we have identified one key witness who was at the scene when the explosion occurred - a security guard stationed in front of a newly constructed shop lot. This means he was about 30 metres from the explosion site at the time and was also injured.

"The police are gathering information and statements from this witness to determine whether any activities - such as burning, excavation, or other actions - could have triggered the explosion. We need more time as we continue efforts to stabilise the ground and conduct a more detailed investigation," he said.

Hussein added that they are also reviewing 20 dashcam recordings and other related videos provided by independent witnesses.

He said these videos helped them identify a witness who was present at the scene, and he urged the public to come forward if they have any additional information, images, or videos.

"We want to determine who else was present at the scene during or before the incident and whether any activities took place that could have led to the explosion," he said.

As for whether the excavation work was conducted on reserve land or road reserve land, he said this is still under investigation.

Regarding viral claims that excavation work took place on the morning of Hari Raya, he said the police have obtained the video in question and have also interviewed the witness who made the claim.

"The witness was in the area visiting for Hari Raya and saw the backhoe that morning. However, he was unsure whether any work was actually being carried out.

"We have identified the backhoe owner, who removed the machine for repairs due to reported damage. While we can confirm that the backhoe was present in the area, we have yet to determine whether excavation work took place," he said.

"Further investigation is needed to establish whether any digging activities, if they occurred, could have triggered the explosion. The excavator was indeed at the site because some work had not been completed," said Hussein.

Meanwhile, he said the technical report, which will be led by the Public Works Department, is estimated to take approximately two weeks to produce a preliminary report in collaboration with other agencies.

He added that they would need another two weeks to complete a full report due to the complexity of the situation.

On April 1, a massive fire broke out at a Petronas gas pipeline in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, causing widespread panic as flames shot up in the air.

The heat from the flames - visible from kilometres away - melted plastic and metal within a wide radius of the pipeline.

A total of 227 houses and 365 vehicles were damaged in residential areas near the pipeline.

SUBANG JAYA: Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan has confirmed that no bodies were found so far in relations to the Putra Heights pipeline gas fire.

He said authorities will still need some time to stabilise the explosion site before they will be able to conduct further investigations there.

Hussein the police had received information about a victim believed to have jumped into the Klang River, approximately 50 metres from the village.

"Today, the marine police searched the Klang River up to this location, but no bodies have been found. An initial surface inspection of the crater also did not find any body parts.

SUBANG JAYA: Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) mengesahkan terdapat aktiviti pengorekan tanah di sekitar lokasi sebelum insiden kebakaran saluran paip gas di Putra Heights, Subang Jaya yang berlaku pada 1 April lalu.

Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, berkata aktiviti itu membabitkan kerja penggantian paip kumbahan yang terletak kira-kira 30 meter dari lokasi letupan.

“Polis dah kenal pasti pemaju, kontraktor, sub kontraktor, pekerja-pekerja yang terlibat yang mengggunakan dua jentera, satu ‘backhoe’ dan satu lagi ‘excavator’ yang digunakan untuk mengorek tanah kawasan itu untuk menggantikan paip kumbahan sedia ada dan kerja-kerja tersebut telah dihentikan pada 30  Mac lalu.

“Hasil daripada siasatan pihak polis mendapati, salah satu ‘excavator’ yang diletakkan di lokasi turut terbenam dalam lubang itu.

“Adakah aktiviti itu boleh menyebabkan letupan?, ia adalah satu perkara yang perlu disiasat lanjut untuk mengenal pasti perkara yang lain, maklumat yang perlu dikumpulkan apabila kita menggali lubang itu untuk mendapatkan maklumat fizikal yang lain yang boleh merumuskan adakah aktiviti itu boleh menyebabkan letupan membabitkan paip gas,” katanya dalam sidang media di sini, sebentar tadi.

Tambahnya, pihak polis memerlukan masa lagi untuk menjalankan siasatan terperinci di lokasi kejadian, memandangkan kawasan itu masih belum stabil.

“Pihak JKR menganggarkan memerlukan lebih kurang dua minggu untuk menghasilkan laporan awal bersama dengan agensi-agensi lain, dan dua minggu seterusnya untuk menghasilkan satu laporan yang penuh sebab dia punya keadaan yang kompleks.” ujarnya lagi.

Pihaknya juga telah membuka kertas siasatan dibawah inkuiri polis, yang mempunyai kuasa untuk memanggil pelbagai pihak untuk menjalankan siasatan lanjut berhubung insiden itu.

SYAWAL kedua yang sepatutnya disambut dengan penuh keceriaan bertukar menjadi detik hitam buat sekumpulan petugas penyelamat apabila letupan paip bocor mencetuskan kebakaran besar.

Api marak, bahang membakar, dan suasana kelam-kabut menyelubungi kawasan penduduk Putra Heights. Namun, di tengah kekacauan itu, lahirlah wira-wira tidak didendang yang bertarung nyawa demi menyelamatkan insan lain.

Menerusi perkongsian di Facebook, Chee Heng Kuan mengakui rasa bimbang menyelubungi dirinya, lebih-lebih lagi mengenangkan usianya yang sudah lanjut serta keselamatan pasukannya yang terdedah kepada risiko letupan.

Menurut Heng Kuan yang juga ketua pasukan ambulans di lokasi, melihat sendiri situasi genting yang berlaku benar-benar menguji ketahanan diri.

Namun, isyarat ‘thumbs up’ daripada anggota bomba yang juga sifunya menjadi pembakar semangat untuk terus bertahan di lokasi kejadian.

"Sebagai ketua pasukan ambulans, saya risau. Saya ini sudah tua. Banyak perkara bermain di fikiran saya.

 "Tapi saya nampak cikgu bomba saya. Dia berikan isyarat 'thumbs up'. Seperti sihir, tiba-tiba saya jadi lebih berani. Sebab sifu saya ada di medan. Tiada kata-kata, hanya isyarat tangan. Dan itu sudah cukup untuk menaikkan semangat saya," tulisnya.

Demi mengharungi suasana yang ibarat neraka dunia, seorang pegawai bomba berpangkat tinggi tetapi bertubuh kecil dilihat bergerak lincah di celah deretan rumah yang terbakar, gigih mencari dan menyelamatkan penduduk terjejas.

"Seorang pegawai berpangkat tinggi yang bertubuh kecil tetapi bergerak pantas di antara deretan rumah yang terbakar.

"Api sangat nyata dan sangat dekat. Kami dapat rasa bahangnya. Pegawai muda dan kecil itu mengarahkan anak buahnya memakai baju api dan membawa BA (breathing apparatus) kalau-kalau diperlukan," katanya.

Bagi pasukan yang dikendalikan Heng Kuan, bukan sahaja nyawa manusia menjadi keutamaan, malah haiwan peliharaan seperti anjing dan kucing turut diberi perlindungan daripada ketakutan dan bahang api yang menjulang tinggi.

Keadaan digambarkan begitu genting apabila kereta melebur, alat permainan kanak-kanak di taman cair, dan pokok-pokok rentung akibat bahang yang membakar.

Dalam situasi mencemaskan itu, operasi evakuasi menjadi semakin mencabar dengan ambulans yang penuh sesak.

"Di mana-mana kami melihat kereta melebur, malah peralatan taman permainan turut cair. Pokok-pokok hangus terbakar.

"Kami berada di sana untuk mengevakuasi 35 penduduk, termasuk enam kanak-kanak. Banyak haiwan peliharaan, terutamanya anjing.

"Ambulans kami penuh sesak. Satu ambulans khas digunakan untuk membawa anjing dan kucing. Ambulans lain bimbang terkena isu ‘samak’ nanti atau ada pihak yang tidak senang dengan ambulans membawa haiwan," luahnya lagi.

Semestinya, mangsa yang terjejas paling merasai derita pada Syawal kedua tatkala ada yang muncul berkaki ayam, mata merah menahan tangisan, mengenangkan nasib yang berubah sekelip mata, meranapkan kegembiraan yang sepatutnya dirai.

Namun begitu, Chee Heng yang lebih dikenali sebagai Uncle Kentang meluahkan rasa syukur kerana tiada nyawa terkorban dalam tragedi memilukan itu.