SUBANG JAYA: Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) mengesahkan terdapat aktiviti mengorek tanah dilakukan berhampiran lokasi letupan paip gas bawah tanah di Putra Heights di sini, pada 30 Mac lalu.

Bagaimanapun, Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, berkata pihaknya perlu menjalankan siasatan lanjut bagi menentukan sama ada kerja pengorekan tanah itu adalah punca kejadian terbabit.

Beliau berkata, terdapat tiga unsur yang mungkin mendorong insiden letupan paip gas bawah tanah di Putra Heights itu membabitkan gas, udara dan percikan api.

Katanya, setakat ini seramai 56 saksi sudah dipanggil untuk menjalani sesi rakaman percakapan bagi membantu siasatan insiden terbabit.

"Kerja mengorek tanah dibuat bagi menggantikan paip kumbahan, terletak kira-kira 30 meter (m) dari lokasi letupan. Namun, kita belum mengenal pasti sama ada mereka turut membuat kerja pada hari pertama Aidilfitri atau sebaliknya.

"Berdasarkan keterangan saksi, eskavator yang dilihat pada hari terbabit dikatakan mahu dibawa keluar dari tapak projek, tetapi mereka dikatakan tidak sempat berbuat demikian.

"Polis juga sedang mengumpul maklumat daripada seorang saksi kejadian iaitu pengawal keselamatan yang berada di lokasi kejadian.

"Sebenarnya terdapat tiga paip gas natural yang membawa bahan berkenaan dari Terengganu ke selatan dan utara Semenanjung serta Thailand.

"Ketika kejadian, satu daripada tiga paip terbabit dikesan pecah, menyebabkan kebocoran gas yang mengakibatkan letupan terbabit," katanya pada sidang media di sini, hari ini.

Turut hadir, Setiausaha Kerajaan Selangor, Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin; Pengarah Jabatan Kerja Raya negeri, Shukri Ishak serta Pengarah Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri, Wan Md Razzali Wan Ismail.

BH Selasa lalu melaporkan kebakaran besar paip gas berlaku di Putra Heights, Selangor pada hari kedua Aidilfitri, menyebabkan kemusnahan besar sehingga memaksa sebahagian penduduk dipindahkan ke pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS).

Kebakaran saluran paip gas PETRONAS sepanjang 500m yang bermula sekitar jam 8 pagi itu menyebabkan api menjulang tinggi sehingga dapat dilihat beberapa kilometer jauhnya.

Rentetan itu, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia kelmarin, melakukan penandaan terhadap struktur rumah terjejas bagi mengenal pasti tahap keselamatannya, sebelum pasukan penyiasat memulakan tindakan lanjut.

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.