Is PUB at fault for the latest death at canal?

[Piyopico]

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

[Pcslim]

Sad that authorities again failed to act for years, remedied only after a targic incident...

[Piyopico]

When there is a clear and present danger, I think full attention and effort needs to be channeled towards mitigating it.

 

It could have been you or me.

 

 

[Good-Carbuyer]

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

I believe the death has got nothing to do with once in fifty years drain flooding/overflowing?

[Acieed]

If you go there the day after and you can see the railings were installed within 12 hours of the incident. But they only install at the drain within 5-10 meters from the exact spot. You walk a little further, there's no more railings liao. Let's see if there's any more follow up after the news die down, or need to wait for 5 more years.

Edited June 3, 2011 by Acieed

[Ocean6576]

Again, need the scholars to set up committee to study the problem, another scholar committee to monitor the study committee, then another committee to prepare the tender, another committee to regulate the preparation.....you know, the list goes on. From last sept till now then finally some action taken, should count ourselves lucky only one fatal casualty.

[SimonTan]

If there is no guilt and no danger WHY...install the railing so fast?

I mean the tendering time, the quotation time, the signing of approval, etc. Surely needs some time right?

 

How come the railing can be installed SO FAST?

Anyone in the contractor business? Why can so fast activate such installation work?

 

I mean even if the phone call from the junior TC member to the contractor's secatary and ask for quote, already one day minimum right?

Or there are higher level to higher level instruction?

 

[Babyt]

install fast complain, install slow also complain.

 

i think we sld be careful of ourselves, sometimes it could be freak accident.

 

 

[SimonTan]

Any new on whether the family will sure or not?

Maybe different national. If not think, they will sue for S$1.8million.

 

[Rainbowbiatch]

the report said they were aldy "planning" for the railings.. just that it wasn't soon enough to stop this tragedy from happening..

[Kar_lover]

install fast complain, install slow also complain.

 

i think we sld be careful of ourselves, sometimes it could be freak accident.

 

dun u know the ppl are like dat?? nothing is ever the ppl's fault. everything is govt's fault, the ppl have no responsibility to take care of themselves....if it was really such a death trap why only now got such case (not dat i dun symphatise with the deceased's family) happen and not earlier?

[Spiderman302]

Is PUB Fault ?

 

that depends on who ask the question.

 

[Joseph22]

dun u know the ppl are like dat?? nothing is ever the ppl's fault. everything is govt's fault, the ppl have no responsibility to take care of themselves....if it was really such a death trap why only now got such case (not dat i dun symphatise with the deceased's family) happen and not earlier?

 

Dont blame ppl lah.. what to do. All are baby, need government to set up railing.

[Acieed]

Next time ask you to come setup some railing for my neighbourhood instead. [laugh]

 

Dont blame ppl lah.. what to do. All are baby, need government to set up railing.

 

[Wt_know]

if such case happen in HK or TAIWAN, the government probably have to compensate the family liao

Edited June 3, 2011 by Wt_know

[Joseph22]

Next time ask you to come setup some railing for my neighbourhood instead. [laugh]

 

I not Approve vendor.. cannot set up for you. later kenna sue

[Scion]

i agree the authority has to bear some responsibility.. probably 80%

 

cos when that drain was flooded in a storm, being only 50cm deep, no one can differentiate between the pavement and the longkang

[Joseph22]

i agree the authority has to bear some responsibility.. probably 80%

 

cos when that drain was flooded in a storm, being only 50cm deep, no one can differentiate between the pavement and the longkang

 

If their solution for flooding is to install railing, then its 100% their fault. they should be thinking how to prevent the flooding instead of building railing..

 

I actually find it funny that PUB solution to flooding is to install railing and not to raised the drain higher or deeper to prevent overflooding.