PETALING JAYA: Residents trapped in their homes by high floodwaters within the Taman Sri Muda residential area in Shah Alam are without power and drinkable water, communication, depleting food supplies and are anxiously awaiting aid and rescue to arrive.

       A resident at Pangsapuri Damai in Taman Sri Muda, Mohd Fahmi Zulkifli, 42, said that as the floodwater receded yesterday morning, some able-bodied residents were able to leave but others had to stay behind as they had vulnerable family members who could not make the journey out.

       “The flood has receded but the water level on many roads are still knee-high.

       “Those who are able to make it can get out but many are staying behind, such as those with small children and the elderly.

       “My family also decided to stay behind although the water and electricity has been cut off for days because my 75-year-old mother-in- law is not really able to walk that far,” said the telco engineer when contacted yesterday morning.

       Mohd Fahmi, who has been staying in Taman Sri Muda since 2013, said residents who had been left behind needed aid in the form of cooked food and a generator as they are depending on an electric-powered water pump as their source of clean water.

       “We can survive without electricity but not without water,” he said, adding that his family has also been surviving on their own supply of food such as biscuits as access to cooked food contributed by outsiders has been erratic.

       Those who have access to some basic supplies can be considered the lucky ones by those frantically searching for their missing relatives or friends.

       Relatives are fraught with worry over the situation of their trapped loved ones – especially the elderly and children – because they cannot be contacted.

       Trying situation: Flood victims wading through floodwaters in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

       A resident of Taman Sri Muda who only wanted to be known as Lingam, 64, is concerned about the elderly folk and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who have been left behind, saying that as of yesterday morning, authorities manning the blocks were restricting civilian volunteers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from entering the afflicted area.

       “When asked why, they say it is an order from the higher-ups.

       “They ask us to leave the food with them and they will distribute it,” he said, adding that although there was a central location for food and aid distribution, there were many elderly and PWDs who were unable to come out and collect them.

       Lingam, who is staying with his relatives after the flood hit his house on Saturday, said he returned there yesterday after learning a woman had reached out for help on social media to check on her 71-year-old father, who has been uncontactable.

       “I tried to go to his house but I was not allowed in, so another resident who lives closer to the man’s house managed to locate him and connect him with his very concerned daughter through a phone.

       “The authorities are not helping and we could only go and see if he is okay and has food and water, then report back to his family that he is okay and pray the water will recede.

       “If the authorities are not taking action fast enough, people might die of exhaustion,” he said, adding that he is also worried about the PWDs left behind.

       “I managed to help a mentally disabled patient that I know personally. They might get hurt or even killed if they are left with no help.”

       Lingam also questioned the authorities’ failure to give advance warning to residents about the floods.

       He was away at a wedding in Melaka when his neighbour called him on Saturday to inform him there was a rise in the water level but it was not yet alarming.

       “In Taman Sri Muda, there are three places with a water level warning system but on the day, none of the alarms was triggered, so many of the residents were confident that the water would recede,” he said.

       However, by 8pm, the situation turned critical, and by 10pm, the floods had hit full swing, claimed Lingam, adding that it was later found that the alarms were not functioning.

       “If the authorities knew that it was not working, they could have informed the residents to be prepared.”