Drain railings go up, a day too late
Works to relieve flooding in area where boy fell 'planned earlier'
By Tham Yuen-C
A worker putting up railings yesterday at the drain near where Indonesian student William Lim, 15, fell, got swept away and drowned on Wednesday. Flood waters during a heavy downpour that day had obscured the drain and he had unwittingly stepped into it. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
UPGRADING works were already being planned at Mandalay Road in Balestier to alleviate the flooding problem there, and the PUB had drawn up a tender for the project which comes out today.
Unfortunately, this was too late for Indonesian student William Lim, 15, who unwittingly walked into a rain-swollen drain in the area on Wednesday, got swept away and drowned.
Yesterday, the national water agency said that plans had started earlier this year to widen the drains in the area, cover them and also raise the roads.
The project was scheduled to start in September after the tender was called, and would have been completed by the first quarter of next year.
Mr Choy Wai Kwong, the assistant director of PUB's catchment and waterways department, said the Mandalay Road stretch is the lowest point in the area. As a result, water rushes into the drains from the higher parts.
'When there is intense rain, the water will overflow,' he said at a briefing at the site.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, an MP for Moulmein-Kallang GRC who oversees the Balestier area, yesterday said he had approached PUB about the flooding problem in Mandalay Road last year after receiving feedback from residents.
He conveyed his condolences to William's family and said he knew it must be a painful time for them.'Our hearts go out to the family,' he said.
Mr Lui, who toured the area, said that PUB has for now taken immediate measures by installing railings to improve safety, even as works to improve the drainage system are ongoing.
By noon yesterday, new railings had been installed along a 15m stretch of the drain at the junction of Mandalay Road and Minbu Road,
At about 2.40pm on Wednesday during very heavy rain, William and two of his friends were walking along Mandalay Road towards a private apartment block there.
The road was filled with water up to their shins. William, who was walking in front, did not realise a 0.5m drain was there and walked into it. The next instant, he was swept into a connecting drain that ran underground.
He emerged in an open part of the drain about 50m away. His friend, Rieyan Tan, 15, tried to grab hold of him but could not as the currents were too strong. He then floated away and was found at about 10.45pm at a canal near Whampoa Drive.
Residents said the Mandalay Road area is known to flood every time it rains heavily.
Mr Richard Tann, 62, who is a semi-retired consultant and has lived in Mandalay Mansion at the intersection between Mandalay and Minbu roads for 30 years, said water gushes down from the higher parts very quickly.
Insurance and sales executive Ian Keelaghan, 37, who moved into the area three months ago, said he has experienced two floods so far.
'The situation is really terrible,' he said. 'The flooding is torrential and totally covers the road. The last time it flooded, the water level was so high the taxi I was in refused to drive through."
The National Environment Agency said that Wednesday's thunderstorm had developed quickly and resulted in intense rainfall over a short duration.
Rain fell between 1.15pm and 4pm, with the heaviest downpours in the central parts of Singapore.
Mr Lui said that even as long-term plans were being put in place, residents could play a more active role when floods occur.
He noted how at Cambridge estate - another flood-prone area in his constituency - residents warn one another of floods.
Even as PUB rectifies the flooding issue, residents can also work together with grassroots bodies to identify potentially risky areas such as those with no railings or are dimly lit and get these areas improved, he said.
[email protected]
Additional reporting by Danson Cheong
Works to relieve flooding in area where boy fell 'planned earlier'
By Tham Yuen-C
A worker putting up railings yesterday at the drain near where Indonesian student William Lim, 15, fell, got swept away and drowned on Wednesday. Flood waters during a heavy downpour that day had obscured the drain and he had unwittingly stepped into it. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
UPGRADING works were already being planned at Mandalay Road in Balestier to alleviate the flooding problem there, and the PUB had drawn up a tender for the project which comes out today.
Unfortunately, this was too late for Indonesian student William Lim, 15, who unwittingly walked into a rain-swollen drain in the area on Wednesday, got swept away and drowned.
Yesterday, the national water agency said that plans had started earlier this year to widen the drains in the area, cover them and also raise the roads.
The project was scheduled to start in September after the tender was called, and would have been completed by the first quarter of next year.
Mr Choy Wai Kwong, the assistant director of PUB's catchment and waterways department, said the Mandalay Road stretch is the lowest point in the area. As a result, water rushes into the drains from the higher parts.
'When there is intense rain, the water will overflow,' he said at a briefing at the site.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, an MP for Moulmein-Kallang GRC who oversees the Balestier area, yesterday said he had approached PUB about the flooding problem in Mandalay Road last year after receiving feedback from residents.
He conveyed his condolences to William's family and said he knew it must be a painful time for them.'Our hearts go out to the family,' he said.
Mr Lui, who toured the area, said that PUB has for now taken immediate measures by installing railings to improve safety, even as works to improve the drainage system are ongoing.
By noon yesterday, new railings had been installed along a 15m stretch of the drain at the junction of Mandalay Road and Minbu Road,
At about 2.40pm on Wednesday during very heavy rain, William and two of his friends were walking along Mandalay Road towards a private apartment block there.
The road was filled with water up to their shins. William, who was walking in front, did not realise a 0.5m drain was there and walked into it. The next instant, he was swept into a connecting drain that ran underground.
He emerged in an open part of the drain about 50m away. His friend, Rieyan Tan, 15, tried to grab hold of him but could not as the currents were too strong. He then floated away and was found at about 10.45pm at a canal near Whampoa Drive.
Residents said the Mandalay Road area is known to flood every time it rains heavily.
Mr Richard Tann, 62, who is a semi-retired consultant and has lived in Mandalay Mansion at the intersection between Mandalay and Minbu roads for 30 years, said water gushes down from the higher parts very quickly.
Insurance and sales executive Ian Keelaghan, 37, who moved into the area three months ago, said he has experienced two floods so far.
'The situation is really terrible,' he said. 'The flooding is torrential and totally covers the road. The last time it flooded, the water level was so high the taxi I was in refused to drive through."
The National Environment Agency said that Wednesday's thunderstorm had developed quickly and resulted in intense rainfall over a short duration.
Rain fell between 1.15pm and 4pm, with the heaviest downpours in the central parts of Singapore.
Mr Lui said that even as long-term plans were being put in place, residents could play a more active role when floods occur.
He noted how at Cambridge estate - another flood-prone area in his constituency - residents warn one another of floods.
Even as PUB rectifies the flooding issue, residents can also work together with grassroots bodies to identify potentially risky areas such as those with no railings or are dimly lit and get these areas improved, he said.
[email protected]
Additional reporting by Danson Cheong
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